“Have you yet secured a box for Adelina Patti’s performance? A wonderfully rising star.”
“So the news of Ferdy Drontheim’s engagement with the banker’s daughter is quite confirmed. It is a scandal!”
And so the chatter went on from all sides. An unimpassioned listener would hardly have concluded from these speeches that they sprang out of the impressions of a scene of humble devotion just concluded.
At last we got out of the gate, where our carriages were in waiting, and a crowd of people were collected. These folks wanted at least to see those who had been so lucky as to have seen the gentry who had been spectators of the Court; and then, on their side, they could pass themselves off as people only a little less distinguished, as having seen the spectators.
We had scarcely got out when Tilling stood before me. He made me a bow.
“I have to thank you again, Countess Dotzky, for the beautiful wreath.”
I gave him my hand, but could not speak a word.
Our carriage had come up; I was obliged to get in, and Rosa was pressing me forward. Tilling raised his hand to his cap, and was retiring. Then I made a great effort, and said, in a tone which sounded quite strange in my own ears:—
“On Sunday, between two and three, I shall be at home”.
He bowed in silence, and we got in.