"We did not dare to break this news to the Master abruptly," said Winning. "He is not at all prepared for it. Perhaps you'll undertake it, Baron? He will have to learn the truth; in a half hour all Odensburg will have the news."
"I'll communicate it to him," said the Baron, as he folded the paper up and put it in his pocket. "But, one thing more, gentlemen! It is just possible that when this result of the election gets abroad manifestations may be attempted, that, in this case, will be a direct insult to our chief. That mad crew, drunk with victory----" here all his vexation broke through the self-restraint, that he had heretofore with difficulty maintained. "Any attempt at demonstrations of rejoicing will be suppressed with the greatest severity, no matter what comes of it. We have no longer any motive to consider them, and they shall be made to feel this." With a haughty nod, he left.
The two officers looked at one another, and finally the director said, with a depressed air: "I wonder who is properly our chief now,--Herr Dernburg or Baron Wildenrod?"
"The Baron, it would seem," answered Winning, irritably. "He gives orders independently, and orders, too, that may entail the most serious consequences. These demonstrations are bound to come. Fallner and his adherents are already seeing to that----"
It was no enviable task that Wildenrod had undertaken. When he again entered Dernburg's room, he was received with the impatient question:
"What was that message about, pray? They are not tormenting us now about other things, I hope--we really have no time for them. But I cannot understand the meaning of this obstinate silence over at the other house. They should have got the news by this time, at least in part, and still not a word do they send us."
"The news has already come, as I have just learned," replied Wildenrod.
"How is that? Why is the announcement delayed then?"
"The director and Winning wanted to bring it over in person. They came to me----"
Dernburg started; for the first time a foreboding of ill darted through his soul. "To you? Why not to me? What are those men thinking of?"