Runeck's lips quivered, but he made no reply to this last remark. "Remember me to Miss Maia--she perhaps will not spurn my salutation," said he hurriedly. "Farewell, Doctor."
So saying he turned to the stairs, where Landsfeld was still awaiting him, and mounted them with him, while Hagenbach called his coachman and then seated himself in his carriage.
Herr Willmann, from the front door, made another reverential bow. The very next minute, he hurried as fast as his corpulence would admit of, after the other two.
And he did not tremble at all when he stood before the dreaded Landsfeld, but bent just as low before him as he had done awhile ago to the doctor, and in the most fawning manner asked his honored guests to take possession of the gentlemen's parlor, where they should be entirely undisturbed--he would see to it that nobody came in. Whatever their honors wanted in kitchen or cellar, yes, the whole house was at their disposal.
"No, we need nothing now," said Landsfeld carelessly. "Only you see to it, mine host, that nothing is lacking this evening. The crowd will be very great."
The fat host of the "Lamb" exhausted himself in assurances that everything should be attended to in the very best of style, and then with the greatest self-complacency repaired to his assembly-room, to attend to making some arrangements in person. Herr Pancratius Willmann possessed, in the highest degree, the art of serving two masters.
The two guests meanwhile had entered. Egbert had seated himself, and his head rested in his hand. He looked pale and worn, and there was a harsh, bitter look upon his face, not at all habitual with him.
The new candidate for election did not seem, to find much pleasure in the honor that had been bestowed upon him. Landsfeld closed the door and likewise drew up to the table.
"Have you time for us, at last?" asked he with sharpness.
"I should think I always had that," was the short answer.