The Breaking of the Storm Volume I Part 31

"Oh yes!"

"Then you will not lack amus.e.m.e.nt when you come to Golm."

"That I am certain of, in the company of the possessor of Golm."

The Count bowed. Philip turned to the servants who at that moment entered the room.

"How provoking! They have just let in a man who wants to see me for a few minutes on important business."

"I can only repeat my request," said the Count.

"And I protest again against your kind consideration, which is really quite unnecessary. I shall only be a minute."

Philip led the two gentlemen to the drawing-room, and shut the doors after him.

"Pleasant sort of fellow, this Herr Schmidt," said the Count.

"Is not he?" answered the Councillor. "This time your prejudices were at fault."

"It is not a prejudice. I made the acquaintance of a man of that name a few days ago--even had to entertain him at my own table--who was most objectionable to me."

The Councillor had heard from his friend the General an account of the circ.u.mstance, which had taken place at Golmberg, before he met the Count, and knew well enough whom the Count honoured with his dislike, and also in what relations.h.i.+p Reinhold stood to Philip. But why tell the Count that, and spoil his good humour? The Count cast a glance of astonishment through the splendid room, whose almost over-crowded pictures and magnificent furniture glittered in the light of chandelier and candelabra.

"But this is princely," said he.

"And still it is only a faint shadow of the splendour that the man has decked his new house in the Wilhelmstra.s.se with. It is all ready, except a few details; but will not, I think, be open before next spring. He must show it to you; you would delight in it."

"I don't know," answered the Count; "this luxury has something overpowering in the eyes of one of us."

"On the contrary, I should say something encouraging," said the Councillor. "When people with no name, or rather with such a name!

without connections, without help from home--Herr Schmidt is by trade only a builder--bring matters to such a result, what is there in the world unattainable to such men as you who have such enormous advantages of birth, connections, and influence, provided that you free yourselves from certain very respectable prejudices and set to work heart and soul as these people do."

"And what has this man got to show that is so remarkable?"

"In the first place his intelligence, inventive genius and energy; in the second, certain lucky speculations in houses and lands, of which the crowning point is certainly the starting of our railway."

"Now it is quite clear to me why your shareholders are always lamenting so loudly that you build so extravagantly," said the Count, with a sarcastic smile.

"What do the poor devils understand about it?" answered the Councillor; "if they settled matters we should have to take the roasted chestnuts out of the fire without getting anything for it."

"Then there is fire?"

"Before which a man in his old age may warm his knees with much pleasure!"

And the Councillor waved his hand towards all the magnificence around them. The Count laughed, the Councillor himself thought that a smile was allowable. Philip came out of his study and shut the door behind him.

"I hope you will not mind," said he in a low voice, turning to the Count, "but I thoughtlessly mentioned your name, and my business friend begged so earnestly----"

"Who is it?" said the Count.

"Herr Hugo Lubbener."

The Count changed colour slightly and cast a quick furtive glance at the Councillor, who however met it unmoved.

"My banker," said the Count.

"He did not tell me that!" cried Philip; "then certainly I may venture."

"I shall be very happy," said the Count rather crossly.

"This all fits in wonderfully," whispered the Councillor to him, while Philip called through the door which he had left open into the study.

"Come in, you most discreet of men! I should have thought that the firm stood so well with the Count----"

"As well as the Count stands with the firm!" said Herr Hugo Lubbener as he came in. "Excuse my freedom, Count Golm, seeing you have not honoured me."

"Why, I a.s.sure you, I have not had time yet," exclaimed the Count, taking in the tips of his fingers the hand which Herr Lubbener offered somewhat timidly. "A world of business----"

"We can understand that, living in the business world as we do, can we not, Councillor?" said Herr Lubbener. "But now that I have had the honour and pleasure I will not stay a moment longer."

And he moved to the door; the Count glanced at the Councillor, who lifted his eyebrows.

"You are not going on my--our account, Herr Lubbener," said the Count; "we are here to admire the splendid collection of our kind host."

"Whose greatest admirer and appreciater is Herr Lubbener himself," put in the Councillor.

"Because I possess a few good things?" said Herr Lubbener. "Why, by Jove! a man must patronise art or at least the artists nowadays. Our friend Schmidt always fishes the best things away under our noses.

Yesterday this Riefstahl was in Lepke's window, now of course it hangs here. What did you give for it?"

"What do you think?"

"Not more than half, I am sure."

Philip laughed as if he heard the old stockbroker joke for the first time; the Councillor cackled hoa.r.s.ely like an old hen in rainy weather; the Count appeared highly amused.

"What would you have?" said he; "such a picture is really invaluable."

Philip turned the light of the reflector upon the picture, which now showed all its beauty for the first time.

"Really magnificent!" said the Count.

He had stepped a little nearer so that he himself was in the light of the lamp. The appearance of the Count standing there in the full light seemed to have something peculiarly comic for the three other men who were standing a little back. They glanced quickly at each other, and each face wore a malicious smile. The Councillor laid his finger on his long nose; Philip bit his lip.

"I have a Hildebrandt here," said he, "which I consider may be called the gem of my collection."

"At all events it is in his best style," said the Count.

They went from picture to picture, criticising and naming great artists, and not less great sums, till Philip, foreseeing danger to his plans, grew impatient.