What the Swallow Sang Part 35

Herr Wollnow came out of an adjoining room, ready for walking. Ottilie accompanied the two friends to the door. "I wish I could go with you,"

said she.

"And it would not be a bad thing," said Wollnow as the two friends walked through the dusky streets, in which to-day there was an unusual stir and bustle; "women have what in such cases removes mountains--the sovereign pa.s.sion which we men, luckily for ourselves, have reasoned away, though without obtaining in exchange the sovereign calmness with which that strange old man met Brandow this morning. I would not speak of it in the ladies' presence. Brandow, with the acuteness for which even his enemies must give him credit, had made up his mind from the first moment that Cecilia must sooner or later come here, even if she did not do so at once. He therefore instantly turned round and drove here as fast as the horses could go; he must have met you just outside of Prora. Since that time he has lurked around my house and your lodgings; I admire the firmness with which he has maintained his usual calm manner, and his boldness in telling everybody that his wife had gone away to make a little visit, and the farce Cousin Borlaf had played with the farm-hands--searching the bog and forest--was a piece of roguery for which he would call the spiteful old man, with whom he had long been on bad terms, to a strict account. He must have had a h.e.l.l of anxiety and dread in his heart, for his enemies--and he has not a few, foremost among whom are Redebas and the Pluggens--took an eager interest in circulating the worst reports, and the members of the committee on the races were on the point of formally demanding an explanation from Brandow, when yesterday evening he said at the club that his wife had arrived here half an hour before, and was staying with us: the Selliens had also requested the pleasure of her company, but the a.s.sessor's health was not yet entirely restored, so he had given us the preference. In order to give his statement the proper weight, or--urged on by I know not what devil of impudence--as soon as he heard of Cecilia's arrival yesterday evening--I suppose through Alma Sellien, who unluckily was with my wife at the time--he rang the door-bell, and sent in his card to Ottilie. She would undoubtedly have been glad to receive him and give full vent to her feelings; but the old gentleman entered the room, and with the stately politeness which we of the last two generations have forgotten, begged her to leave him alone with Brandow a moment. It was, in fact, not more than a minute before the old gentleman rejoined the ladies with a mien as calm as ever; while the other rushed down the staircase, and Cecilia, who had no suspicion of his presence, was startled by the violence with which somebody banged the door. Here we are at the 'Golden Lion.' Let me go in alone. If we should not find him this evening, he ought not to know that you have returned."

Wollnow entered the wide hall, through whose open door a bright light streamed into the somewhat dusky street. There were a great many guests in the large hotel on account of the races, which had commenced to-day, and were to be continued to-morrow, so that Wollnow was obliged to ask several times before he could get a positive answer; and Gotthold was kept waiting longer than he expected. As, in walking up and down, he had for the second time proceeded some little distance from the house, a female figure suddenly emerged from a dark side-street, pa.s.sed him, and instantly turned back with a murmured "Carl," raising her black veil at the same moment. In spite of the dim light, Gotthold recognized Alma Sellien.

"You are mistaken," said he.

Alma had also recognized him; she had felt so sure of her ground that terror almost robbed her of all presence of mind; but it was only for a moment. "It is fortunate it was no one else," she said, drawing a long breath, and then, as Gotthold made no reply, added: "I have begged him again and again to tell you; you must learn it sooner or later, and to you the news can give only pleasure; but he never would."

"And for good reasons."

"What reasons? Pray, pray tell me all."

"In another place and at another time; neither hour nor scene is suitable."

Wollnow came out of the hotel. "Another time, then," whispered Alma, as she drew down her veil and glided back into the dark street from which she had just emerged.

"Who was that?" asked Wollnow.

"This man will drag half the world into the mire with him," cried Gotthold.

"Where we should have sought him long ago, if we wanted to find him,"

replied Wollnow. "It was Frau Sellien, wasn't it? You betray no secret, it was one only to us; here the sparrows chatter it on the housetops.

The man is making it easier for us than we expected; but it is a wonderful piece of luck that you caught Hinrich Scheel. If only the fellow's old clannish feeling doesn't break out again at the last moment."

"I do not think it will; for it is precisely because Brandow has so brutally wounded this feeling, so basely broken the faith due from the chief to his follower--that has excited and angered the rough but in his way honest man, to the highest degree. No, on the contrary, what I fear is that our treatment of Brandow will not satisfy him, and he will try to revenge himself in his own fas.h.i.+on."

"And is he so far wrong?" replied Wollnow earnestly, "are we not robbing the gallows of its victim? And even if we excuse ourselves by saying that there are crimes worse than highway robbery and murder, which do not come under the head of any law, cannot Hinrich Scheel quote the same thing himself, and demand that the breach of faith committed against him, and for whose condemnation he can certainly apply to no regular judge, shall not remain unpunished? But forgive my illogical obstinacy, my dear friend. I perceive that the future of more than one innocent person depends upon the secrecy with which we go to work. So let a Vehmgericht or a judgment from Heaven take the place of a public trial. Here we are at the club-house. I am sorry to leave you, but I feel with you that you must fight your way through this without seconds."

Gotthold walked up and down the brightly-lighted vestibule; loud voices, laughter, and the clinking of gla.s.ses echoed from the dining-room, into which a liveried servant had taken his card; the clerk was sitting in the office busily employed on his books; and the servants in the dressing-room had enough to do to take and deliver up the coats of the gentlemen who were constantly arriving and departing.

The man again appeared; Herr Brandow begged to be excused, but he was very busy just now; would not tomorrow morning be time enough?

"Time enough for what?" asked Gustav Von Pluggen, who had come out of the dining-room directly behind the servant, and greeted Gotthold with his usual noisy gayety, now increased by plentiful potations of wine.

"What? Brandow very busy? Stuff and nonsense! Pressing business! He's sitting behind a bottle of Canary, writing one round sum after another in his d.a.m.ned betting-book. They're all determined to be fools, though Redebas and Otto and I have tired ourselves out talking; after what we saw at Dollan, everything is possible. It will turn out just as it did with Harry--Harry at the Derby, five years ago. Ever been in England?

Famous country--women, horses, sheep--famous. An old joke of mine that always keeps fresh. What was I saying? do you want to speak to Brandow?

But why don't you come in? It will be a pleasure to me to introduce an old schoolmate. Celebrated artist, hey? I heard some devilish good things yesterday at the chairman's from Prince Prora, who made your acquaintance in Rome, and is delighted to hear that you are in Sundin.

Even spoke of seeking you out; curious; on the race-course to-morrow.

By the way, got a ticket? Stand A? Don't hesitate, I beg; see, half-a-dozen left; gives me great pleasure. Come in!"

The servant had turned the handle of the door long before. The dining-room was crowded with people--members of the club, and their guests, among whom the officers of the garrison were especially numerous. They were sitting at different tables with bottles of champagne before them; a gay, even noisy conversation was going on; no one noticed the new-comers, not even Brandow, who had apparently just risen from the table, and was standing at the end of the apartment, in the midst of a group of people who were all talking to him at once, while he, holding up his betting-book, exclaimed: "One at a time, gentlemen! one at a time! since you are positively determined on being kind enough to make me a Cr[oe]sus. Trutwetter, one hundred and fifty!

Please put your name underneath. Here, if you prefer! I have kept a place for k.u.mmerrow's two hundred pistoles, Baron? No! Oh! dear, omen in nomine! who would have thought it? Another! Pluggen! Et tu Brutus?

What is it? A gentleman--back again already? I am very busy! Tell the gentleman--"

Brandow suddenly paused; he had just seen Gotthold, who had been standing directly behind him.

"I have time to wait until you have finished your business here."

"It would detain you too long."

"I have plenty of time."

Gotthold withdrew from the circle with a polite but formal bow; Brandow had turned very pale, and stared sullenly at his betting-book, while the lead-pencil trembled in his hand. What was the meaning of the pertinacity with which this man pursued him? Should he rudely dismiss him before the whole company? But that was impossible without a scene, and this evening a scene might be dangerous.

"Now, Brandow! I have no time to wait!" cried a voice.

"Are you reckoning them up already?" asked a second.

"I really must run them over once," replied Brandow, closing the book; "have patience for a few minutes, gentlemen; it seems that there is a communication of some importance to be made to me. I'll be back again in a moment. Now may I ask your wishes?"

"The communication I have to make is indeed of some importance, and might be best heard without witnesses. So it is only in your own interest that I request you to provide some place where we shall not be disturbed."

"Have you considered that I shall probably have more to ask of you than you of me?"

"I think I have considered everything; and that is probably more than you can say."

They were standing somewhat apart from the others, speaking in low tones, and looking steadily into each other's eyes.

"Come, then," said Brandow.

"Who was that?" asked one of the gentlemen, whose autograph graced Brandow's betting-book.

"A famous fellow!" cried Gustav von Pluggen. "Old schoolmate of mine; celebrated artist; talked about him all yesterday evening at the chairman's! Protege of Prince Prora's! Famous fellow! I'm going to have him paint me. In England every man of rank has himself painted with all his favorite horses and dogs, and all the rest of the family. Ever been in England, k.u.mmerrow? Famous country--women, horses, sheep--everything famous!"

CHAPTER x.x.xIII.

They crossed the hall in silence, and, without exchanging a word, entered one of the rooms reserved for the private use of the members of the club, and which the servant opened for the two gentlemen at a sign from Brandow. A large hanging lamp, directly over a round table covered with green velvet, lighted the apartment tolerably well. Several arm-chairs, also covered with green velvet, stood around the table.

"I suppose we shall be entirely undisturbed here," said Gotthold.

"And I that the farce will not last long; you saw I was very busy."

Brandow, as if in a fit of impatience, had drawn one of the chairs away from the table and thrown himself into it, but it was by no accident that his face was thus in the shadow, while the light streamed full on Gotthold's.

"Very busy," repeated Brandow, drumming on the arm of the chair, "too busy not to be compelled to defer the account I have to settle with you until tomorrow morning. And if you should have the--the face to try to intimidate me, I say: Beware! beware! you do not yet know me; my patience is not inexhaustible, and however willing I might be to avoid a scandal, and for these few days, I freely confess, would fain escape it--if you urge me, and it must be--I am ready--ready at any moment."

Brandow had spoken in a loud, threatening tone; but he had evidently failed in his object. Gotthold's eye rested upon him so calmly--with a glance of contempt, as it seemed to him--that he could not bear the gaze, and suddenly paused with a secret thrill of terror, as Gotthold now quietly opened a letter he had just taken out of his pocket.

"Will you read this letter before you say more?"

Brandow had not the courage to refuse.

"From the n.o.ble Wollnow, apparently, to me and about you?"