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He went through it all; he rose to eloquence in describing our departure from Forstadt. This scene ended, he seemed conscious of a bathos. It was in a dull, rather apologetic tone that he concluded by remarking: "Their Majesties will arrive at Artenberg at seven o'clock, and will partake of dinner."
I did not make these observations as a small boy at Artenberg, but even as a small boy I knew very well that the Countess von Sempach would not be invited to the Schloss. Nor was she. My mother guarded the gate, a jealous angel. Thus a pleasant summer passed at Artenberg, and in the autumn we returned to Forstadt.
"I was not entitled to congratulate you officially." "You have raised a mountain of misconception about me in Forstadt," I complained. "A mountain-top is a suitable regal seat, and perhaps the only safe one." "Won't you speak plainly to me?" "Yes, if it's your pleasure." "I have least of it of any pleasure in the world." "Well, then, the Countess von Sempach grows no younger." "No?"
For Elsa was young, fresh, aspiring to happiness as a plant rears its head to the air. And our wedding was but a fortnight off. "Am I repulsive, am I loathsome?" "What a question, my dear M. Struboff!" I had that snatch of talk in my head when I fell asleep. The next day but one found me back at Forstadt. They had begun to decorate the streets.
"I'll appeal to you again in five, in ten years," said she, smiling, pleased with my covert praise. "Oh, it's pleasant to see you again," she went on a moment later. "I'm a bad penitent. I wish I could be with you always. No, I am not dreaming now. I mean, just in Forstadt and seeing you." "A moment ago you were glad to go back to Paris." "Ah, you assume more ignorance of us than you have.
He leaned across the table and said in a very low voice to Wetter: "Sir, his Majesty is the only gentleman in Forstadt who can not resent an insult." I recollect well little Madame Briande's pale face, as she half rose from her seat with clasped hands. Coralie still smiled. Vohrenlorf was red and fierce, with his hand on the hilt of his sword. Varvilliers was calm, cool, polished in demeanour.
Again!" he answered. The door that faced us was thrown open, and Coralie stood before me in a loose gown of a dark-red colour. Before she could speak, Wetter darted forward, pulling me after him. "I have the distinguished honour to present my friend, M. de Neberhausen," he said. "You may remember meeting him at Forstadt." Coralie looked for a moment at each of us in turn.
There was a little stir by the door, and a man came through the group that loitered round it, hastily shaking hands here, nodding there, as he steered his course toward Princess Heinrich. I knew that Varvilliers would come to the wedding, but had not been aware that he was already in Forstadt. My companions did not notice him, but I watched his interview with my mother.
The fat man looked from one to the other of us in an obtuse suspicion of our hilarity. "The king admired my wife's talents," said he. "We intend to visit Forstadt next year." "Do you?" said I, and Wetter's peal broke out again. "The king will find my wife's talent much increased by training," pursued Struboff. "Damn your wife's talent!" said Wetter, quite suddenly.
I very nearly laughed. The only man fit for the Embassy, except himself, was Count Max! And if Count Max went, of course the Countess would go with him; equally of course the King must stay in Forstadt. I saw Wetter looking at me keenly out of the corner of his eye; it did not suit me that he should read my thoughts this time.
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