The head-butler, with a cigar in his mouth, stepped into the streets and surveyed the row of windows with great satisfaction; but with still greater, did he look across the streets at the residence of the Crown-prince, where all was dark and deserted; how jealous they will be there!
A carriage drove up full of the servants of the establishment, men and women, then another, in which were Eric and Roland, and finally appeared a coach drawn by four horses. Bertram drew up at the door, and out stepped Herr Sonnenkamp followed by Fräulein Perini, and lastly by Frau Ceres, enveloped in the costliest furs.
The coachmen before the house forgot their agreement, and raised no cheers for Sonnenkamp. Amidst utter silence he and his family entered the vestibule, where the bearded porter in a laced coat and broad-brimmed hat presented his, silver-headed cane. He stood motionless as a statue; only his eyes sparkled. His face assumed a satisfied expression as they ascended the warmed, lighted, and flower-hung stair-case. Frau Ceres was not in good humor, having slept almost the whole way; she sat down before the open grate, and consented after a while to have her furs taken off.
Sonnenkamp inspected all the rooms, saying, when he came to those intended for Roland and Eric,—
"All the comforts of this world have their price; those who have nothing must turn coachmen, and freeze down there, waiting for a passenger."
He returned to, his wife's boudoir, where Frau Ceres was still sitting motionless on a luxurious seat before the fire.
"What shall we do to-day?" she asked languidly.
"There is still time to go to the theatre."
"Dress myself over again? I won't."
Here, happily, the Cabinetsräthin was announced.