"Very well! H'm—h'm!" muttered Bommeldoos.
"The Professor must not counteract with his irony," said the countess, pleasantly.
"Mevrouw," declaimed the Professor, solemnly, "in the researches of a philosopher nothing is trifling, nothing is ridiculous. He stands for all phenomena like an unbroken mirror. Darwin had the contrabass played to an audience of sprouting garden-beans, in order to observe the effect of music on vegetation. And if you have read my book about Plotinus...."
"Pardon, Professor, I have not."
"What! Then the one about the material basis of ideas?" "Nor that."
"Then you certainly must read my book upon Magic. Do not forget it, or I will not come the next time. Plotinus says...."
Here followed a quotation in Greek that I will spare you, but which was listened to with respect. Then the Honorable Lady chimed in with:
"Shall we not sing something? It puts one in such a good frame of mind."
They all agreed with her, but no one wanted to begin. The General seated himself mettlesomely at the table, and spread out his hands on the top of it.
With simulated unconcern, one after another followed him. At last, Johannes also was invited to take part.