"If we can unconditionally calculate upon it--yes," said the director, "but I am afraid----"
"What are you afraid of?" asked Hagenbach with a look of concern, as the other broke off in the middle of his sentence.
"That we shall be in the minority here too. Runeck's hold upon the people seems to be greater than we foresaw--signs of it, indeed, have come to light just in the last hour."
"Runeck is a forcible speaker," said Winning, earnestly, "and his great speech, recently, at the 'Golden Lamb' carried away his whole audience. To be sure it did not reach his former level. He used to speak coldly, with stern repose, but every word told--this time he stormed away like a runaway horse, without method or aim."
"He was suffering anxiety about his election," mocked the upper-engineer. "Yet there comes Helm; perhaps he brings something important."
It was one of the younger officials who now entered and handed over a telegram just received. The director opened and read it, after which he silently handed it to the doctor, who stood at his side. He glanced over it and then shook his head. "This is very disagreeable! So, in town the victory of the Socialists is already decided! Read it, gentlemen!"
The telegram went the rounds, while the director stepped to the telephone, that connected the assembly-room with the Manor, in order to report to the chief.
"Now the decision rests wholly and solely upon Odensburg," said the upper-engineer. "At all events it was imprudent to dismiss that ranter Fallner, immediately before the elections. It has made bad blood and cost us hundreds of votes, perhaps. But Herr Dernburg was inexorable!"
"Was he to submit placidly to having this man prate against him in his own workshops, setting them of his own household against him?" remarked Winning. "Things of the kind have never been suffered at Odensburg, and now would have been an example of unpardonable weakness."
"But I am afraid that we were only the victims of a party maneuver," persisted the other. "Fallner knew exactly what was before him--must have known it--but he belonged to that new set, who do not lose much if they go, so that he could afford to give himself to the venture. He was to be dismissed, the affair was meant to stir up bad blood among the people, for that it was planned. I represented all this to the master--but in vain. 'I suffer no rebellion and no stirring up of strife on my place. Let this be announced to the man at once.' Such was his answer, and thereby he put weapons in the hands of his adversaries."