“He is certainly by no means an ordinary man.”
“Do you imply by that,” asked Coriolan sharply, “that we are ordinary people?”
“I meant nothing more than I said. Mr. Toker is an exceptional phenomenon. A man, who by work and business has made an enormous fortune, and who now is placing this fortune at the service of the most ideal aims.”
Coriolan shrugged his shoulders. “He simply wants to get himself talked about.”
“What ideal aims do you mean?” asked the countess.
“Heavens! it is hard to explain them all in a few words. The main thing is the spread of thoughts that soar—Hochgedanken....”
“What is that?”
“If you will do me the honor of listening to my address, then you will understand Mr. Toker’s intentions, for I am going to speak in the spirit which lies at the foundation of the motto of this year’s Rose-Festival.”
“Are you going to speak to-day?”
“No; not until the third or fourth day.”