louisa of prussia and her times-第96节
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staining his glory with the blood ofOh； Thou knowest my fears；
Thou knowest what I mean； and what my lips dare not utter。 Protect
Bonaparte； and guide his heart！〃
CHAPTER XLI。
TWO GERMAN SAVANTS。
A Post…chaise； drawn by four horses； had just driven up to the hotel
of The German Emperor； the first and most renowned inn in the city
of Frankfort…on…the…Main。 The porter rang the door…bell as loudly
and impetuously as he only used to do on the arrival of aristocratic
and wealthy guests。 Hence the waiters rushed to the door in the
greatest haste； and even the portly and well…dressed landlord did
not deem it derogatory to his dignity to leave the dining…room； for
the purpose of welcoming the stranger in the post…chaise； drawn by
the four horses。
In this post…chaise he perceived a gentleman of prepossessing and
jovial appearance； and with a handsome and tolerably youthful face。
His large blue eyes looked gayly and boldly into the world； a genial
smile was playing on his broad and rather sensual…looking lips； and
his voice was clear； strong； and sonorous。
〃May I find here with you comfortable rooms； and； above all； a good
supper？〃 he asked the landlord； who； pushing aside his waiters and
the stranger's footman； stepped up to the carriage； in order to open
the door。
〃Sir；〃 replied the landlord； proudly； 〃The German Emperor is noted
for its good rooms and excellent table！〃
The stranger laughed merrily。 〃Truly；〃 he said； gayly； 〃these are
splendid prospects for Germany。 If The German Emperor furnishes good
rooms and an excellent table； I am sure Germany would be
unreasonable to ask for any thing else！ Well； my dear landlord； give
me； then； good rooms and a supper。〃
〃Do you want rooms on the first or on the second floor？〃 asked the
landlord； respectfully walking behind the stranger； who had just
entered the hall。
〃Of course； on the first floor； Heaven forbid that I should have to
climb two flights of stairs！〃 replied the stranger。 〃I like to live
in comfortable and elegant rooms。 Give me； therefore； three fine
rooms on the first floor。〃
〃Three rooms！〃 said the landlord； hesitatingly。 〃I must observe to
you； sir； that all the rooms on the first floor have been reserved
for the Duke of Baden； who will arrive here to…morrow or day after
to…morrow； and stop at The German Emperor； like all princes coming
to our city。 I do not know if I can spare three rooms。〃
〃Oh； you surely can； as the duke will only arrive to…morrow or day
after to…morrow； while I am here to…day；〃 said the stranger。
〃Give me the rooms you had intended for the duke； then I shall be
sure to get good ones； and I shall take them at the same price you
will charge him。〃
The landlord bowed respectfully； and snatched the silver candle…
stick from the hand of the head…waiter； in order to have the honor
of conducting the stranger up…stairs to his rooms。 The waiters； who
had stood on both sides of the hall in respectful silence； now
hastily rushed toward the post…chaise； in order to assist the
stranger's footman in unloading the trunks and packages belonging to
his master。
〃As far as the supper is concerned； pray imagine I were the expected
Duke of Baden； and make your arrangements accordingly；〃 said the
stranger； ascending the staircase。 〃I particularly enjoy a good
supper。 If you have any pheasants to serve up to me； I shall be
content with them； only see to it that they be well larded with
truffles。〃
And his voice died away in the large corridor which he was now
walking down； preceded by the landlord； in order to take possession
of the best rooms in the hotel。
The waiters were engaged in unloading the trunks； and improved this
opportunity to inquire of the stranger's footman； clad in a rich
livery； the rank； name； and title of his master。
He told them the gentleman had just arrived from Loudon； where he
had been living for a year； he was now on his way to Vienna； and
would leave Frankfort on the following day。
〃This trunk is very heavy；〃 said one of the waiters； vainly trying
to lift from the carriage a small trunk； mounted with strips of
brass； and covered with yellow nails。
〃I should think so；〃 said the footman； proudly。 〃This trunk contains
my master's money and jewelry。 There are at least twelve gold
watches； set with diamonds； and as many snuff…boxes。 The Queen of
England sent to my master on the day of our departure a magnificent
snuff…box； adorned with the portrait of her majesty； and richly set
with diamonds： and the snuff…box； moreover； was entirely filled with
gold pieces。 Come； take hold of the trunk on that side； I shall do
so on this； and we will take it directly up to my master's rooms。〃
Just as they entered the hall with their precious load； another
carriage drove up to the door。 But this time it was only a
miserable； rickety old basket…chaise； drawn by two lean jades with
lowered heads and heaving bellies。
The porter； therefore； did not deem it worth while to ring the bell
for this forlorn…looking vehicle； but he contented himself with
leisurely putting his hands into his pockets； sauntering down to the
chaise； and casting a disdainful glance into its interior。
There was also a single gentleman in it； but his appearance was less
prepossessing and indicative of liberality than that of the former
stranger。 The new…comer was a little gentleman； with a pale face and
a sickly form。 His mien was grave and care…worn； his dark eyes were
gloomy and stern； his expansive forehead was thoughtful and clouded。
〃May I have a room in your hotel？〃 he asked； in a clear； ringing
voice。
〃Certainly； sir； as nice and elegant as you may desire；〃 said the
porter； condescendingly。
〃I do not require it to be nice and elegant；〃 replied the stranger。
〃Only a small room with a comfortable bed； that is all I care for。〃
〃It is at your disposal； sir；〃 said the porter； and beckoning the
youngest waiter to assist the stranger in alighting； he added： 〃Take
the gentleman to one of the smaller rooms on the first floor。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the stranger； 〃I do not ask for a room on the first
floor； I shall be satisfied with one on the second floor。 Be kind
enough to pay my fare to the coachman； he gets ten florins。 You may
put it down on my bill。〃
〃And will you give me no drink…money？〃 asked the coachman； angrily。
〃The gentleman will assuredly not refuse me drink…money after a
three days' journey？〃
〃My friend； I did not agree to pay you any thing but those ten
florins；〃 said the stranger。 〃I will comply with your demand；
however； for you have been an excellent driver。〃
He handed half a florin to the coachman； and entered the hotel with
measured steps。
〃Do you want supper？〃 asked the waiter； conducting him upstairs。
〃Yes； if you please；〃 said the stranger； 〃but no expensive supper；
merely a cup of tea and some bread and meat。〃
〃A poor devil！〃 muttered the porter； shrugging his shoulders
disdainfully； and following the stranger with his eyes。 〃A very poor
devil！ only a room on the second floor； tea and bread and meat for
supper！ He must be a savant； a professor； or something of that
sort。〃
Meantime the footman and the waiter had carried the heavy trunk；
with the gold and other valuables； up…stairs to the rooms of the
stranger on the first floor。 These rooms were really furnished in
the most sumptuous manner； and worthy to be inhabited by guests of
princely rank。 Heavy silk and gold hangings covered the walls；
blinds of costly velvet； fringed with gold； veiled the high arched
windows； precious Turkish carpets adorned the floor； gilt furniture；
carved in the most artistic manner and covered with velvet cushions；
added to the splendor and beauty of the rooms。
The stranger lay on one of the magnificent sofas when the trunk with
his valuables was brought in。 He ordered the footman with a wave of
his hand to place the trunk before him on the marble table； wrought
by some Florentine artisan； and then he leisurely stretched out his
legs again on the velvet sofa。
Scarcely had the door closed again behind the footman and the
waiter； however； when he hastily rose； and drawing the trunk toward
him； opened it with a small key fastened to his watch…chain。
〃I believe I will now at length add up my riches；〃 he said to
himself。 〃The time of the golden rain； I am afraid is over； at least
for the present； for； in Germany； an author and savant is never
taken for a Danae； and no one wants to be a Jove and lavish a golden
rain upon him。 The practical English； who are more sagacious in
every respect； know； too； how to appreciate a writer of merit； and
pay him better for his works。 Thank God I was in England！ Let us see
now how much we have got。〃
He plunged his hands into the small trunk and drew them forth filled
with gold pieces。
〃How well that sounds！〃 he said； throwing the gold pieces on the
table； and constantly adding new ones to them。 〃There is no music of
the spheres to be compared with this sound； and no view is more
charming than the aspect of this pile of gold。 How many tender love…
glances； how many sumptuous dinners； how many protestations of
friendship and love…pledges； how many festivals and pleas
