Das landhaus am Rhein. English

by Berthold Auerbach

  CHAPTER III.

  THE NEW ALLIES, AND A SUMMER FETE.

  Hardly two weeks had gone by before the lessons were interrupted again.Frau Ceres, who was generally very quiet and took no interest inanything, often referred to a promise she had made to take Roland tosee the Cabinetsraethin, (wife of the _cabinet-minister_), whoseacquaintance she had formed at the Baths.

  A grand excursion to the capital was decided upon, which Eric alone wasnot invited to join. The party set out in two carriages. Frau Ceres,Fraeulein Perini, and Roland in one, and Sonnenkamp and Pranken in theother.

  Pranken began at once to express his satisfaction at the friendlyinterest Sonnenkamp had shown in the Church; he had on his side alreadyput things in such a train that they could count upon the co-operationof the higher clergy, who were very influential at Court, in carryingout their plan. He felt some compunctions at profiting by his frequentand intimate intercourse with the Prince-cardinal, as a piece ofdiplomacy; but he was vain enough to wish to pass off upon the world ingeneral and Sonnenkamp in particular, as a stroke of worldly wisdom,the inward illumination which he secretly gloried in. He rejoiced atthe relation thus easily established with the Cabinetsraethin, upon whomoutside pressure could be brought to bear in a way hardly possible withher husband.

  As they drove by a handsome villa, whose shutters were all barred,Pranken suggested that Herr Sonnenkamp should buy it in order to sellit again at a low price to the Cabinetsraethin, who, as he knew, hadlong cherished a strong desire for such a residence. Sonnenkampconsented, on the condition that it would accomplish his object. Itwould be one of the levers, Pranken assured him, though not the onlyone.

  Although the two were alone together, neither of them, singularlyenough, mentioned their plan by name, till Sonnenkamp said that theCabinetsraethin had told him a title of nobility was to be conferred onthe wine-merchant, and that he wished he might get one first; for hethought he had a better right to the distinction, though he was notgoing to marry his daughter to a dying man, but rather to the freshestand liveliest of noblemen.

  Pranken smiled his thanks, but replied that this priority of theWine-count,--it could hardly be called precedence--was ratheradvantageous than otherwise, as it made the conferring of titles appearnot so much a matter of private negotiation.

  "Your difficulties are greater than those of the Wine-count," he added:"for the Prince-cardinal stayed in his house on his last circuit, sothat the Wine-count has on his side the church party, which is asdiscreet as it is powerful, while you, I would say we, have no party.So much the better; the victory will be all our own."

  They reached the capital.

  The Cabinetsraethin was delighted, and expressed to Pranken, whom sheconstantly treated as the head, in fact the president of the party, hergreat pleasure that a watering-place acquaintance should have ripenedinto a new friendship.

  Pranken insinuatingly remarked that they might become neighbors too.

  The country-house was glowingly described, and the fact cautiously yetemphatically stated, that Sonnenkamp had already bought the place forthe sake of inducing some noble friends to settle there by letting themhave it at a moderate sum.

  The lady was delighted; she knew the house very well, it having oncebelonged to friends of hers whom she had been in the habit of visitingthere. She quite envied the people who should live in such a home andhave such noble neighbors. She had told her husband, she said, that itwas a disgrace to the State that such a man as Herr Sonnenkamp shouldhave no title.

  Having thus prepared the way, Pranken disclosed his plan to theCabinetsraethin, who assured him it could not but be a most desirablething for society, to have a man of Herr Sonnenkamp's importanceadmitted to a higher rank. Sonnenkamp assumed an air of great shynessand modesty. A maiden receiving her first offer, which she was quiteprepared for, could not have looked more bashfully on the ground; heactually blushed.

  They drew their chairs nearer together, as if now for the first time aright friendly and confidential intercourse was established among them.The lady begged that nothing might be said to her husband upon thematter at present; she would manage that part herself; but it would bea good plan to set some other influence at work; if Count Wolfsgarten,for instance, would start the subject at court, it would be easy toplay into his hands.

  Pranken laid great stress upon the cordial friendship that existedbetween Clodwig and Sonnenkamp, but urged that a matter of this kindneeded to be handled with the greatest delicacy, such as only a lady ofthe Cabinetsraethin's acknowledged tact was capable of.

  Sonnenkamp declared that he did not ask for a title; it must be offeredhim; his friends must see to that. He rejoiced in the delicacy withwhich the Cabinetsraethin handled the matter, and he handled it in likemanner; his whole demeanor said, This is something quite out of thecommon course.

  He moved his hand quietly, as if he were stroking the back of a verysoft cat.

  "Are there vineyards attached to this country-house?" suddenly askedthe lady.

  "To the best of my knowledge," answered Pranken, "there are three acresmost favorably situated."

  He winked at Sonnenkamp, as much as to say that these must of course bepurchased also.

  Sonnenkamp at once lost his character of modesty and bashfulness; herewas a question of money; here he was master. He wanted to tell the ladythat he could not deal in any other than a business-like manner; whenhe had fairly got his patent of nobility she should take possession ofthe country-house and vineyards besides; but he was afraid to say itbefore Pranken, and besides it seemed hardly necessary to come out withit just yet. When it came to the point, he would be man enough not toallow himself to be cheated. There was a triumphant smile upon hisface.

  The Cabinetsrath entered, saluted Sonnenkamp with formal politeness,and expressed his thanks for the courtesies shown his wife at Vichy.

  The party went into the hall, where were Roland and the son of thehouse, a cadet. Roland's beauty immediately attracted all eyes, andmade him the centre of the group. The Cabinetsrath congratulated him onhaving for a tutor such a finished scholar as Eric, although he wassomewhat eccentric in his theories, and as Roland answered somequestion that were addressed to him by saying he should like to be anofficer, advised him to enter the school of cadets as soon as possible.

  Pranken said in an aside to the Cabinetsraethin that he entirelyapproved of Herr Sonnenkamp's plan not to let Roland enter the schooltill he had received a title, thus sparing him many embarrassments; forif the boy were suddenly admitted to the nobility while in the school,there would be no end to the jokes he would have to endure from hiscompanions.

  The Cabinetsrath spoke of the rebuilding of the ruins, of Sonnenkamp'swell-known skill in horticulture, and of the complimentary manner inwhich he had often heard them spoken of in the highest circles.

  Sonnenkamp craved permission to send some of his products occasionallyto the royal table, especially his beautiful bananas, which were nowparticularly fine. Pranken thought Herr Sonnenkamp's success in grapeculture the most remarkable, for he managed to have fresh grapes uponhis table every month in the year.

  The Cabinetsrath replied that this courtesy would no doubt be veryacceptable, but he had no authority to speak in the matter. TheMarshal, who was a cousin of Herr von Pranken, would unquestionablyaccept the offer.

  Pranken at once took Herr Sonnenkamp to see the Marshal, while Rolandrode out with the cadet. Frau Ceres remained with the Cabinetsraethin,and apparently caused that lady great surprise by urging her to acceptthe coral necklace which she wore upon her neck, and which her friendhad so much admired.

  The lady was obliged to accept it, but begged Frau Ceres to consider itas a token of the intimacy of their private friendship, and not tomention the gift to any one else. She repeatedly declared that she usedher interest for her friends without the least motive of selfishness.She laid great stress upon this point, being convinced that Frau Cereswas a party in the plan for gaining he
r by presents.

  Frau Ceres looked at her in amazement, and thought herself againhorribly stupid; the woman was speaking of things of which she knewnothing.

  The party had not proposed to spend the night in the capital, but onthe minister's wife proposing an excursion to some pleasure-grounds,Pranken insisted on their remaining till the next day. It would be agreat advantage to have the two open carriages, with Frau Ceres and theCabinetsraethin in one, and Sonnenkamp, Pranken, and the Cabinetsrathin the other, drive through the streets of the capital to thesepleasure-grounds, where the best and most select society would beassembled. The best society should see that Sonnenkamp was alreadyadmitted to close intimacy with Count Pranken and the Cabinetsrath.

  On the way the Cabinetsraethin was seized with an idea as amiable asit was wise. Both these merits delighted her, and not less her owngood-nature. She should win an ally and help a poor woman. With greatcondescension and pity, she spoke of Eric's mother, who had with afoolish enthusiasm sacrificed her position to a so-called ideal love.Here the Cabinetsraethin looked towards Pranken, between whom andherself so close a league was already established that she did nothingwithout his approval. A scarcely perceptible nod from him showing herthat she might continue, she appealed to Herr Sonnenkamp to dosomething for Eric's mother; if possible, even to receive her into hishouse. Aunt Claudine also was spoken of in terms of the highest praise.

  The Cabinetsraethin imagined that her relations with the Sonnenkamphousehold would be much more easily maintained, if the Professor'swidow and the aunt formed a part of it; then her intercourse would bein a manner with them, and not with this man. In fact it would be herduty to see as much as possible of these noble women, in order tosoften their position of dependence; and that advantage, with manyothers, would be easily secured when she had established herself inthat country-house, which of course had several acres of vineyardattached to it.

  Thus there was a mingling of motives, with a good and animating result.

  Sonnenkamp smiled blandly, but all the while was saying tohimself,--These nobles hold together more closely than a band ofthieves; in fact they are thieves, for all this impoverished nobilitywants to bolster itself up by me.

  He acceded politely to the lady's proposition, with the inwardreservation, You have not that estate yet, and the Professor's widowmay sit for a while longer at her sewing-machine.

  They drove by the country-seat of the Prince, who had lately returnedfrom America. Here everything was in perfect order, and a table, withservants in attendance, was spread in a long, narrow pavilion erectedin a grove by the roadside. The sound of military music came from apublic garden, and the trees were hung with bright-colored lamps. Theofficers of the Guard were holding a summer-fete here. Bands of musicfollowed each other in quick succession, one beginning to play themoment the other ceased. The officers were already seated at a tablespread under a great tent in the middle of the public garden; while atsmaller tables near by sat the dignitaries of the capital, with theirwives and daughters, in gay summer dresses.

  The two carriages drawn by Sonnenkamp's noble horses' attracted greatattention. Pranken quickly gave the necessary directions, andestablished his party at one of the best tables, towards which manyeye-glasses were instantly directed. Pranken, after speaking with hiscomrades and shaking hands with one and another, soon returned toSonnenkamp and his party.

  The Cabinetsraethin leaned in the most friendly way on Sonnenkamp's arm;Pranken escorted Frau Ceres; Roland and the cadet shot arrows at atarget, Roland always hitting the bull's eye.

  Sonnenkamp was introduced to the General, and received from him apromise soon to visit Villa Eden. Pranken was glad to be able to show anew recruit in the person of Roland.

  As evening came on, the bright-colored lamps were lighted. Suddenlythere was a firing of cannon, a beating of drums, and a shouting ofhuzzas, in honor of the arrival of the Prince from his estate to gracethe banquet of the officers. Both bands struck up, "Hail to the Chief,"and all was rejoicing. Happiest of the whole company, perhaps, wasSonnenkamp, who had been presented to the Prince and received a fewcommonplace words from him. Though the words were nothing, the worldhad seen the Prince speak with him and give him a friendly greeting.

  They drove back to the capital in a high state of delight. The coloredlamps kept shining and the music sounding.

  The next morning it was announced in the papers:--

  "Yesterday evening the cuirassiers of the guard celebrated their annualfestival on Rudolph's Hill. His Highness, Prince Leonhard, graced theentertainment with his presence. Among the guests was Herr Sonnenkamp,of Villa Eden, with his highly-respected family."