louisa of prussia and her times-第26节

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gorgeous　bindings。　For　this　very　reason　his　excellency　has　ordered
the　library　to　be　placed　in　this　anteroom；　so　that　it　also　may
gladden　the　hearts　of　other　people；　and　those　gentlemen　who　have　to
wait　here　may　have　something　wherewith　to　while　away　their　time。〃

〃They　are　permitted；　then；　to　take　the　books　down　and　read　them？〃
asked　Gentz。

The　footman　looked　somewhat　embarrassed。　〃I　believe；〃　he　said；
timidly；　〃that　would　not　be　altogether　agreeable　to　his　excellency；
for　you　see；　Mr。　Counsellor；　all　of　these　beautiful　books　are　gilt…
edged；　and　gilt　edges　suffer　greatly　if　the　books　are　read。　You
cannot　even　open　the　books　without　injuring　them　slightly。〃

〃And　the　gilt　edges　on　this　row　of　the　books　before　me　are　as　good
as　new；　and　perfectly　uninjured；〃　said　Gentz；　gravely。

〃Well；　that　is　easily　explained。　They　have　not　been　disturbed　since
the　bookbinder　brought　them　here；〃　exclaimed　the　footman；　solemnly。
〃No　one　would　dare　to　handle　them。〃

〃Does　not　his　excellency　read　these　books？〃

〃God　forbid！　His　excellency　likes　books；　but　he　has　not　got　time　to
read　much。　But　whenever　his　excellency　passes　through　this　anteroom；
he　pauses　before　his　bookcases；　and　looks　at　them；　and；　with　his　own
hands；　frequently　wipes　off　the　dust　from　the　gilt　edges　of　the
books。〃

〃Indeed；　that　is　a　most　honorable　occupation　for　a　minister　of
finance；〃　said　Gentz；　emphatically。　〃It　is　always　a　great
consolation　to　know　that　a　minister　of　finance　wipes　off　the　dust
from　the　gold。　I　should　be　very　happy　if　his　excellency　should
consent　to　do　that　also　for　me　as　often　as　possible。　But　does　it　not
seem　to　you；　my　dear　fellow；　that　it　takes　his　excellency　a　good
while　to　finish　those　dispatches？　It　is　nearly　half　an　hour　since　I
have　been　waiting　here。〃

〃I　am　sure　his　excellency　will　soon　ring　the　bell。〃

〃Ring　the　bell？〃　asked　Gentz；　uneasily；　〃for　whom？〃

〃Why；　for　myself；　in　order　to　notify　me　to　admit　you；　Mr。
Counsellor。〃

〃Ah；　for　you？〃　asked　Gentz；　drawing　a　deep　breath；　and　turning　once
more　to　the　books　in　order　to　while　away　the　time　by　reading　at
least　the　titles；　as　he　was　not　permitted　to　take　down　and　open　one
of　the　magnificent　volumes。

Time　passed　on　in　this　manner；　and　Gentz　was　walking　up　and　down
near　the　bookcases；　studying　the　titles；　and　waiting。　The　footman
had　withdrawn　into　the　most　remote　window；　and　was　waiting　likewise。

Suddenly　the　large　clock　commenced　striking　solemnly　and　slowly；　and
announced　to　Gentz　that　he　had　been　a　whole　hour　in　his　excellency's
anteroom。　And　his　excellency　had　not　yet　rung　the　bell。

At　this　moment　Gentz　turned　toward　the　footman　with　a　gesture　of
indignation　and　impatience。

〃I　am　satisfied　that　his　excellency　has　entirely　forgotten　that　I　am
waiting　here　in　the　anteroom；〃　he　said；　angrily。　〃The　dispatches
must　be　quite　lengthy；　for　I　have　been　here　now　for　an　hour　already！
Hence　I　must　beg　you　to　inform　the　minister　that　I　cannot　wait　any
longer；　for　I　am　quite　busy　too；　and　have　to　return　to　my　study。
Please　say　that　to　his　excellency。〃

〃But　can　I　dare　to　disturb　his　excellency？〃　asked　the　footman；
anxiously。　〃He　has　not　rung　the　bell；　sir。〃

〃Well；　you　must　be　kind　enough　to　disturb　him　and　tell　him　I　must
leave　unless　he　can　admit　me　at　once；〃　exclaimed　Gentz；
energetically。　〃Go；　sir；　go！〃

The　footman　sighed　deeply。　〃Well；　I　will　do　so　at　your　risk；　Mr。
Counsellor；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice；　stepping　behind　the　portiere。
He　soon　returned；　a　malicious　smile　playing　on　his　lips。

〃His　excellency　regrets　that　you　cannot　wait　any　longer；　Mr。
Counsellor；〃　he　said。　〃His　excellency　being　so　busy　that　he　cannot
be　disturbed；　he　requests　you　to　call　again　to…morrow　at　the　same
hour。〃

〃So　his　excellency　dismisses　me　after　detaining　me　here　in　the
anteroom　for　more　than　an　hour？〃　asked　Gentz；　incredulously。

〃His　excellency　is　overwhelmed　with　unexpected　business；〃　said　the
footman；　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders。　〃His　excellency　therefore
requests　you；　Mr。　Counsellor；　to　call　again　to…morrow。〃

Gentz　cast　upon　the　footman　a　glance　which　would　have　shivered　him
like　a　thunderbolt　if　he　had　not　been　a　man　of　stone。　But　being　a
man　of　stone；　the　thunderbolt　harmlessly　glanced　off　from　him。　With
a　peculiar　smile；　he　assisted　the　enraged　counsellor　in　putting　on
his　cloak；　handed　him　his　hat　with　a　polite　bow；　and　then　hastened
to　the　door　in　order　to　open　it　to　him。

At　this　moment　the　minister　in　his　study　rang　the　bell　loudly　and
violently。　The　footman　quickly　opened　the　door　leading　to　the　hall；
and；　with　a　polite　gesture；　invited　Gentz　to　step　out。　The　latter；
however；　did　not　stir。　He　had　hastily　placed　his　hat　on　his　head　and
was　now　putting　on　his　gloves　with　as　grave　an　air　as　if　they　were
gauntlets　with　which　he　was　going　to　arm　himself　for　the　purpose　of
stepping　out　into　the　arena。

The　minister's　bell　resounded　even　louder　and　more　violently　than
before。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Counsellor；〃　the　footman　exclaimed；
impatiently；　〃his　excellency　is　calling　me。　Be　kind　enough　to　close
the　door　when　you　leave。　I　must　go　to　his　excellency。〃

He　hurriedly　crossed　the　room　and　hastened　into　the　minister's
study。

Gentz　now　put　on　his　gloves　and　approached　the　door。　He　bent　one
more　glance　full　of　anger　upon　the　anteroom；　and　finally　fixed　his
eyes　upon　the　glittering　books　in　the　cases　on　the　wall。　An
expression　of　malicious　joy　suddenly　overspread　his　features。　He
drew　back　from　the　door；　and　hurriedly　crossing　the　room；　he
approached　the　books。　Without　any　hesitation　whatever；　he　took　down
one　of　the　largest　and　most　richly　ornamented　volumes；　concealed　the
book　under　his　cloak；　hastened　back　to　the　door；　and　left　the　house
of　the　minister　of　finance　with　a　haughty　and　defiant　air。

Without　nodding　or　greeting　any　one；　he　hastened　through　the　streets
back　to　his　own　house。　At　the　door　of　the　latter　there　stood　two
huge　furniture…wagons；　half　filled　with　the　sofas；　arm…chairs；
tables；　and　looking…glasses　which　heretofore　had　adorned　his　rooms；
and　which　he　was　now　going　to　lose　with　his　wife。

The　servants　had　not　finished　removing　the　furniture；　and　he　had　to
pause　in　the　hall　in　order　to　let　them　pass　with　the　large　silken
sofa　which　had　been　the　chief　ornament　of　his　own　parlor。　This
greatly　increased　his　anger；　with　furious　gestures　he　rapidly
ascended　the　staircase　and　went　to　his　rooms。　Every　door　was　open
the　apartments　which　he　crossed　with　ringing　steps；　were　empty　and
deserted；　and　finally　he　reached　the　door　of　his　study；　where　his
footman　had　posted　himself　like　a　faithful　sentinel。　Gentz　silently
beckoned　him　to　open　it；　and　entered。　But　when　the　servant　was　going
to　follow　him；　he　silently　but　imperiously　kept　him　back；　and
slammed　the　door　in　his　face。

Now　at　last　he　was　alone；　now　no　one　could　see　and　watch　him　any
longer；　now　he　could　utter　the　cry　of　rage　that　was　filling　his
breast　and　almost　depriving　him　of　the　power　of　speech；　and　after
uttering　this　cry；　he　could　appease　his　wrath　still　in　some　other
way。

He　threw　his　cloak　and　hat　upon　a　chair；　seized　the　splendidly　bound
and　richly　gilt　volume　from　the　minister's　library　with　both　hands
and　hurled　it　upon　the　floor。

〃Lie　there；　toy　of　a　proud　minister！〃　he　exclaimed　furiously。　〃I
will　treat　you　as　I　would　like　to　treat　him。　I　will　abuse　you　as　I
would　like　to　abuse　him。　There！　take　this！　and　this！　and　that！〃

And　he　stamped　with　his　heels　upon　the　magnificent　work；　clinching
his　fists　and　swearing　fearfully。　＇Footnote：　Vide　〃Gallerie　von
Bildnissen　aus　Rahel's　Umgang；〃　edited　by　Varnhagen　von　Ense；　vol
ii。；　p　168。＇

A　loud　and　merry　laugh　was　heard　behind　him；　and　upon　turning　round
he　beheld　in　the　door　one　of　his　friends；　who　was　looking　at　him
with　a　radiant　face。

〃Herr　von　Gualtieri；　you　laugh；　and　I　am　furious；〃　exclaimed　Gentz；
stamping　again　upon　the　costly　volume。

〃But　why；　for　God's　sake；　are　you　furious？〃　asked　Herr　von
Gualtieri。　〃Why　do　you　perpetrate　such　vandalism　upon　that
magnificent　volume　under　your　feet？〃

〃Why？　Well；　I　will　tell　you。　I　was　to…day　at　the　house　of　Count
Schulenburg…Kehnert；　he　had　sent　me　word　to　call　on　him　at　ten
o'clock；　and　when　I　was　there；　he　made　me　stand　for　an　hour　in　his
anteroom　like　his　gorgeous；　gilt…edged　books；　which　his　footman　told
me　he　never　opens　because　he　is　afraid　of　injuring　their　gilt
edges。〃

〃And　did　he　admit　you　after　you　had　been　in　the　anteroom　for　an
hour？〃

〃No。　When　I　had　been　there　for　an　hour；　he　sent　me　word　through　his
footman　that　he　was　too　busy　to　receive　me；　and　that　I　had　better
call　again　to…morrow。　Bah！　He　wanted　to　treat　me　like　those　books　of
his；　which　he　never　opens；　he　did　not　want　to　open　me　eitherme；　a
man　who　has　got　more　mind；　more　knowledge；　and　information　than　all
his　books　together。　He　made　me　wait　in　his　anteroom　for　a　whole
hour；　and　then　dismissed　me！〃

〃And　you　allowed　yourself　to　be　dismissed？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　did；　but　I　took　one　of　his　splendid　gilt…edged　volumes
along；　in　order　to　stamp　on　it　and　maltreat　it；　as　I　would　like　to
maltreat　him。　Thus！　and　thus！　To　crush　it　under　my　heels。　It　does　me
good。　It　relieves　me。　At　this　moment　t