Das landhaus am Rhein. English

by Berthold Auerbach

  CHAPTER I.

  ARRIVAL AT THE VICTORIA.

  A line of carriages was standing in front of the Hotel Victoria in thecapital; multitudes of sparrows were fluttering about them while thedrivers stood together in groups, or walked to and fro, bandying jestswith one another, and beating their arms across their chest to keep offthe cold. The sparrows quarreled together, and after picking up allthe crumbs they could find, took their flight. The drivers hadexhausted their jokes and lapsed into silence. What more could be saidand done on a winter's afternoon in the snowy, deserted streets of thecapital? Everything is as still as the blessed prince whose stone imagestands on the great column, with a cap of snow on his head and snowepaulettes on his shoulders. The parade is over, the officials aresitting in their offices, and the shutters of the Casino are closed forthe better enjoyment of the cards by lamp-light. There is a change ofguards at Prince Leonhard's palace, over the way; the soldiers wearlarge cloaks, and carry pistols. The man released from duty whisperssomething, which seems to be of no great moment to the one who succeedshim. An official messenger carrying a bundle of papers comes along,meets a court-lackey wrapped in a long coat that almost touches theground; exchanges a pinch of snuff with him, and passes on. Such is thelife of a small capital on a winter's afternoon.

  But now wide awake! there is something going on. A great stir beganamong the coachmen, and up came the courier Lootz, with a wagon load oftrunks.

  Now there was abundant material for conversation. It was fine to havethis "Gold-nugget, the King of California," come to the capital.

  "Run up to your father, the bell-ringer, and tell him to set all hisbells going," cried one.

  "Give me a drink that I may shout a good huzza," said another. "Nowbegins a merry winter for us. Gold-nugget will scatter more money thanthree princes, and seventeen counts, with seven barons into thebargain."

  "Let me tell you something," chimed in a third. "Let's send adeputation to him when he arrives; he will do it, he is just the fellowfor it. I've a plan."

  "Out with your plan."

  The man thus addressed,--a little humpback, with intelligent, cunningeyes,--kept his comrades in suspense for a while, and then said,--

  "We will petition Herr Sonnenkamp to give every coachman a daily pintof wine. He will do it, you see if he doesn't. If I had seventymillions, I would do it too."

  A broad-shouldered, somewhat disreputable-looking coachman said,--

  "I have been a hotel-keeper myself; I know what that means. Thelandlord of the Victoria has got a winter guest who will keep the housewarm, and the wheels well greased."

  Within the hotel, meanwhile, were none but smiling faces. Even thehandsome landlady was handsomer than ever to-day, as she took a finalsurvey of the sumptuous suite of rooms on the first floor, and foundthat all was in order, only a covering here and there still remainingto be spread. The feet of the butlers, waiters, and maids, as theyhurried to and fro, made no sound on the thick, soft carpets. Thegorgeous silk furniture glistened and gleamed, as if grateful at beingfreed from its mourning wrappers, and allowed to show itself to thelight.

  Lootz was full of business; he seemed bent upon trying every kind ofsitting-place; now one chair and now another, here a sofa and there alounge, he ordered to be differently arranged. Even the beds heappeared disposed to test, but contented himself with pressing thesprings up and down a little. One blue silk boudoir, that opened on acharming balcony, he re-arranged entirely with great skill andexcellent taste.

  All was at last ready.

  When evening came on, the whole long suite of rooms was illuminated;all the burners in the chandeliers, on the tables, and on the mantlesbeing lighted. The entrance hall was decked with flowers. Now theymight come.

  The head-butler, with a cigar in his mouth, stepped into the streetsand surveyed the row of windows with great satisfaction; but withstill greater, did he look across the streets at the residence of theCrown-prince, where all was dark and deserted; how jealous they will bethere!

  A carriage drove up full of the servants of the establishment, men andwomen, then another, in which were Eric and Roland, and finallyappeared a coach drawn by four horses. Bertram drew up at the door, andout stepped Herr Sonnenkamp followed by Fraeulein Perini, and lastly byFrau Ceres, enveloped in the costliest furs.

  The coachmen before the house forgot their agreement, and raisedno cheers for Sonnenkamp. Amidst utter silence he and his familyentered the vestibule, where the bearded porter in a laced coat andbroad-brimmed hat presented his, silver-headed cane. He stoodmotionless as a statue; only his eyes sparkled. His face assumed asatisfied expression as they ascended the warmed, lighted, andflower-hung stair-case. Frau Ceres was not in good humor, having sleptalmost the whole way; she sat down before the open grate, and consentedafter a while to have her furs taken off.

  Sonnenkamp inspected all the rooms, saying, when he came to thoseintended for Roland and Eric,--

  "All the comforts of this world have their price; those who havenothing must turn coachmen, and freeze down there, waiting for apassenger."

  He returned to, his wife's boudoir, where Frau Ceres was still sittingmotionless on a luxurious seat before the fire.

  "What shall we do to-day?" she asked languidly.

  "There is still time to go to the theatre."

  "Dress myself over again? I won't."

  Here, happily, the Cabinetsraethin was announced.

  She was greeted with words of welcome, and very welcome she was. Sheapologized for not having been on the spot to receive her dear friendsand neighbors upon their arrival, as she had intended, but a visit fromCountess Graben had detained her. They thanked her, and were enchantedat her obliging politeness.

  Eric and Roland were summoned to receive the Cadet, who had come also.

  "Where is your mother?" inquired the Cabinetsraethin. "She is comingpresently, I hope?"

  Eric did not answer, and Sonnenkamp quietly interposed, saying that theFrau Professorin was unwilling to give up her country-life.

  "That will cause general regret," returned the Cabinetsraethin, smilingas if she were saying something very amusing. "All the beau-monde aredepending upon having this amiable, witty, universally esteemed ladyanother season among them."

  "She must come," said Frau Ceres.

  Sonnenkamp was sorely vexed. Did the whole glory of his house dependupon the esteem in which this woman was held?

  His displeasure was increased by the lady's adding in a confidentialtone,--

  "The accomplishment of our beautiful and noble plan will be muchhindered and delayed by the absence of the Frau Professorin, _nee_ vonBurgholz," as she always took pains to add. Herr Sonnenkamp wouldhardly be able to draw the best society to his house, she thought,without the lady's presence, adding, with what she meant for anexpression of great modesty, that she should spare no exertions on herown part, but that she could not accomplish nearly as much as the FrauProfessorin _nee_ von Burgholz.

  The numerous lights in the great drawing-room appeared to Sonnenkamp'seyes to burn less brightly; he had sufficient self-control, however,not to betray the extent of his vexation.

  The Cadet proposed that Roland should take part in a quadrille, whichwas to be performed on horseback by the first nobles of the court,towards the end of the month; in the royal riding-ring he could find aplace as squire among the other citizen cadets, and engage in some ofthe evolutions.

  Roland was delighted at the idea, but Herr Sonnenkamp cut the mattershort by saying,--

  "No! you will take no part."

  He did not give any reason; there was no need to say that he did notchoose to have his son make his first appearance among the commonpeople admitted on sufferance.

  The Cabinetsraethin had plenty of court news to tell, such as who hadalready given entertainments, and whose balls were still to come off,besides many a piquant bit of gossip, only half told on account of thepresence of the children. The betrothal of the el
dest son of Herr vonEndlich, whose superb house was so famous, was soon to be celebrated,though there was reason to fear that tidings of death would soon bereceived from Madeira, whither the young pair had gone who were marriedin the summer.

  The Cadet invited Roland to go with him to the theatre that evening, tosee a grand ballet.

  Eric looked in embarrassment at Sonnenkamp, who however said,--

  "Certainly; go, Roland."

  For the first time Eric saw his pupil led away from him, and taken to aplace of entertainment, among a class of people, whither he could notaccompany him. His heart trembled.

  Roland had asked that Eric might go too, but the Cadet explained thatthere were no more places to be had; it was with great difficulty thathe had been able to secure one for his friend. So Roland departed,saying to Eric as he went,--

  "I shall come back to you as soon as it is over."

  Eric became more tranquil. He could not prevent Roland's falling intocompany, and receiving impressions, which threatened the subversion ofall his noble tendencies. He could only trust that his will and hisconscience might be strong enough to withstand the danger.

  Half with pride and half with regret, the Cabinetsraethin told of herson's precocity and cunning in the pursuit of adventures, and lamentedalmost in the same breath that Manna should be passing this brilliantseason in the solitude of the convent; it would have been so pleasantfor her, together with Frau Ceres, to introduce such a lovely girl intosociety.

  Sonnenkamp replied that next winter would be time enough for that.