The Breaking of the Storm Volume Iii Part 10

"I think once will be enough, gentlemen," said Justus, who was already mounted on the chair.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I come before you as a boy before his schoolmaster. For though it is only proper that we artists should express our thanks for the kindness shown to us, I am neither the eldest nor the youngest amongst us, neither the one who has the greatest merit with regard to this beautiful house, nor perhaps the one amongst us who has sinned most with regard to it; but as I am here, I offer in all our names my most grateful thanks for your goodness, and as I feel by no means steady on this rickety pedestal, and as I have learnt from my predecessors----"

"Bravo! bravo!" exclaimed the artists.

"That if one wishes to leave this place one must first look out for a successor, but feel that in this way the matter would never come to an end, I have chosen for the purpose a person who is not in this company; and I ask you to give a cheer for him, who has already spoken himself to-day, and has spoken to my heart, and, I know, to the hearts of many in this company; and to give a second cheer for him, because it would ill become this company if a word were spoken against him here, as has been done, without an answer being forthcoming from amongst us; and a third cheer, and long life to him who requires three lives in order to carry out the herculean labour he has undertaken!"

Justus drew up his slender figure, and his clear voice sounded like a trumpet:

"Long live Edward Lasker!"

And his "Hip! hip! hurrah!" resounded in shouts from the artists, whilst the astonished opponents remained silent, and all who had been shocked at the previous offensive words, and they were many, cheered with them, and the music sounded in the midst, so that the whole room shook, and old Baroness Kniebreche shrieked out to Baroness Holzweg, "I really believe I can hear again with both ears!"

The storm was still raging when Anton, the valet, came up to Philip, who stood shrugging his shoulders and trying to smooth matters amidst a group of gentlemen who were all talking to him at once, with violent gesticulations, hoping and expecting that he would properly resent and punish such a public insult. Anton must have had something very urgent to say, as he pulled his master repeatedly by the sleeve, and dragged him almost by force out of the group.

Philip's face had got very red, but at the first words which the servant, as he unwillingly bent towards him, whispered in his ear, it became white as ashes. He now himself hastily drew the man a few paces farther on one side.

"Where is the gentleman?"

"He is close at hand, in the billiard-room," answered Anton; "here is his card."

The servant was as pale as his master, and brought the words out with difficulty from between his chattering teeth.

"Any one with him?"

"They are in the vestibule and out in the street and in the court--oh, sir, sir!"

"Hus.h.!.+ Will you help me?"

"Willingly, sir."

Philip whispered a few words into the man's ear, who then went hastily through the room into the vestibule, from which, unchecked, he disappeared, through a door, into the cellar regions. Philip stood there for a few minutes, his firm lips tightly compressed, and his fixed eyes bent on the floor. He had not expected this; he had hoped to have had at least another week's law. The devil must have prompted Lubbener. However, the great haul must in the end have failed, and he had got the ready money, at any rate, provided; but he must venture it!

If he could only get out of the house, they must be more than cunning--he had had everything prepared for weeks in case of this happening. As he again lifted his gloomy eyes, his glance encountered Lubbener's, who, only a few paces off, apparently in eager conversation with the Councillor and some other gentlemen, had closely observed the short scene between the master and servant, and, as the former stepped back to the group, now turned his back upon him.

"Excuse me for a few minutes, gentlemen," said Philip; "I have still some arrangements to make for the cotillon, and then, if you please, we will leave the table."

He said it in his usual loud and swaggering tone, whilst at the same time he caught Lubbener by the wrist, as if in an overflow of hilarity, and drew him out of the group.

"What do you want?" gasped Lubbener.

"To tell you," said Philip, grinding his teeth, "that you shall pay me for this, sooner or later!"

He flung the little man from him so that he tumbled backwards into the group, and making his way through the conservatory with a firm step, pa.s.sed into the billiard-room, to meet a gentleman who stood there alone with folded arms, leaning on one of the tables, and apparently studying the ornamentation of the door through which Philip entered.

"Inspector Muller?" said Philip, who still held the card in his hand.

"I have that honour," answered the inspector, unfolding his arms so slowly that he could not well take Philip's outstretched hand.

"And what procures me this pleasure?" asked Philip.

"The pleasure is a very doubtful one, Herr Schmidt. I have a warrant against you!"

The officer took a paper from his breast-pocket, and so held it that Philip could easily have read it by the lamp over the billiard-table; but Philip had taken up a ball, and was making a hazard.

"A warrant! How very strange! Look there! a double hazard too! Are you a billiard player, Herr Muller?"

"Occasionally, when I have time, which I seldom have--for instance, not at present. I must therefore beg of you to follow me without delay."

"And leave my guests? But, Herr Muller, just imagine--four hundred people, and no host! It is absolutely impossible!"

"It must be possible."

"But it is not necessary. You are my guest. Toilette at this hour is of no consequence; besides, you are got up regardless. Remain by my side, of course--a cousin who has just arrived--what you will! Your men, in plain clothes I take it for granted, can amuse themselves finely meanwhile with my people. Afterwards we can drive together in my carriage----"

"You are very kind, but a carriage is already provided, and now stands in the courtyard amongst a number of equipages, so that we need not again pa.s.s through the vestibule. You see, Herr Schmidt, I go to work with the greatest consideration; but I must now really beg that you will not put my patience to a longer test."

Philip rolled the ball which he held in his hand from him at random, and turned round.

"Well, if nothing else will satisfy you; but I hope I may change my dress?"

"I have no objection to that, only you must submit to my presence meanwhile."

"No apologies, Herr Muller, between men! Will you be so good?"

And he led the way, the officer following on his steps. In the library, which opened out of the billiard-room, an a.s.sistant officer was waiting, who now joined them.

"You are very cautious, Herr Muller," said Philip over his shoulder,

"My duty, Herr Schmidt!"

He touched Philip's arm, and said in a low voice, "If you will give me your word of honour to make no attempt at escape, which would moreover be quite fruitless, I can"--and the inspector made a sign over his shoulder--"spare you at least this escort."

"No attempt at escape!" said Philip laughing; "oh! Herr Muller, I can think of nothing else. I would vanish through the floor or the walls if I only could."

The officer could not help smiling.

"Go back into the vestibule again, Ortmann," he said.

"Thank you for your confidence," said Philip, as they went up a winding staircase, guarded by a handsome richly-gilt railing, by means of which the library was connected with the upper story of the right wing, which was separated from the ball-room by the whole width of the courtyard, that was partially glazed like the conservatory.

"The fact is, Herr Muller, that inconvenient as it certainly is to me, I cannot take this episode really in earnest----"

Philip had opened a door in the corridor in which they now stood.

"This is a pa.s.sage-room," he said in an explanatory tone; "I should prefer to turn to the right, through that door into my living rooms, which are to-day being used also as company rooms. But as there is no help for it, we must go through the one on the left to my bedroom."

He pushed the door open. "Pray go first; for the time being, at least, I am still the host here."