"And what do you say to that?"
"What Hamlet said: 'Weary, stale, flat and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of the world!'"
"My evil anticipations are about to be fulfilled," said Oldenburg, through his teeth.
"You said?"
"I was wondering whether Charles had raised the top of the carriage, so that my little Czika does not sit quite in the open air. I believe, however, she would like it best if she never had any other ceiling above her. During our journey she always was delighted when we travelled at night, and she could see her beloved stars on high."
"And may I ask what took you away so suddenly from our neighborhood?" asked Oswald, and his voice trembled.
"A matter of business which interests me only indirectly. The illness of a man whose death may be of the utmost importance to two persons who are dear to me."
The baron waited to see if Oswald would reply.
"I was vain enough to fancy that my departure would make some noise in our society here," he added, when Oswald remained silent; "this seems, however, not to have been the case."
"Everybody has been so accustomed for years to see you come and go of a sudden that they no longer wonder," said Oswald; "but I think there is the carriage!"