In order to escape from the confusion at Wahnschaffe Castle, as the
new house was known, Christian and Crammon retired for several days to
Christian’s Rest. Scarcely had they settled down, when they were joined
by Judith and her companion, by Letitia and Fräulein von Einsiedel.
The countess and Stephen Gunderam had gone to Heidelberg, where they
were expecting Frau von Febronius. Letitia was to follow them a week
later. Felix had been summoned to Leipzig, where he was to join in
the founding of a great new publishing house. After his return to the
castle, his and Judith’s wedding was to take place.
Judith announced that she intended to enjoy the last days of her
liberty. It had not needed much persuasion to bring Letitia with her.
The companion and Fräulein von Einsiedel were regarded as chaperones,
and so with laughter and merriment these four surprised Christian and
Crammon suddenly.
The weather was beautiful, though somewhat cold. They passed most of
their time out of doors, walking in the woods, playing golf, arranging
picnics. The evenings flew by in cheerful talk. Once Crammon read to
them Goethe’s “Torquato Tasso,” and imitated the intonation and the
rhythms of Edgar Lorm so deceptively that Judith grew excited and
could not hear enough. She was attracted by the very imitation that
he practised; to Letitia the verses were like wine; Fräulein von
Einsiedel, who had been mourning a lost love for years, struggled with
her tears at many passages. Judith, on the other hand, saw an adored
image in a magic mirror, and when the reading was over, turned the
conversation to Lorm, and besought Crammon to tell her about him.
Crammon did as she desired. He told her of the actor’s romantic
friendship with a king, of his first marriage to a fair-haired Jewess.
He had loved her madly, and she had left him suddenly and fled to
America. He had followed her thither, and tracked her from place to
place, but all his efforts to win her back had been in vain. He had
returned in grave danger of losing himself and wasting his talent.
Lonely and divided in his soul, he had tried to settle in various
places. He had broken his contracts, been outlawed by the managers,
and barely tolerated by the public as a dangerous will o’ the wisp. At
last, however, his genius had fought down all unfortunate circumstances
as well as the weaknesses of his own nature, and he was now the most
radiant star in the heaven of his art.
When Crammon had ended, Judith came up to him and stroked his cheeks.
“That was charming, Crammon. I want you to be rewarded.”
Crammon laughed in his deepest bass voice, and answered: “Then I ask as
my reward that you four ladies return to-morrow morning to the castle,
and leave my friend Christian and me to each other’s silence. Isn’t it
true, Christian, dear boy? We like to brood over the mysteries of the
world.”
“The brute!” they cried out, “the traitor! The base intriguer!” But it
was only a jesting indignation. Their return had really been set for
the next day.
Christian arose and said: “Bernard is not wrong when he says we desire
silence. It is lovely to be surrounded by loveliness. But you girls are
too restless and unquiet.” He had spoken in jest. But as he passed his
hand over his forehead, one could see the deep seriousness in his heart.
They all looked at him. There was something strangely proud about his
appearance. Letitia’s heart beat. When he looked at her, her eyes fell
and she blushed deeply. She loved all that he was, all that lay behind
him, all that he had experienced, all women he had loved, all men from
whom he came or to whom he went.
Suddenly she remembered the little golden toad. She had brought it with
her and she determined to give it to him to-day. But to do that she
wanted to be alone with him.