"And I recognize the voice of the von Bulows," she said, with a
half-sob in her laughter, as she drew back.
The lunch was brilliant, blending the delicate perfume of aristocracy
with free-and-easy Bohemianism, and enhanced by the artistic
background of pictures, bric-à-brac, and marble facsimiles of the
masterpieces of statuary, including the Venus of Milo and the Apollo
Belvedere.
The Countess stayed only long enough to smoke a couple of cigarettes,
but the other guests were much longer in shaking off the fascination
of Lassalle's boyish spirits and delightful encyclopædic monologues.
When the last guest was gone, Lassalle betook himself to the best
florist in Berlin, composing a birthday poem on the way. At the shop
he wrote it down, and, signing it "F.L.," placed it in the most
beautiful basket of flowers he could find. The direction was Fräulein
Helene von Dönniges.