The Count raised himself in his chair, and then let himself immediately fall back.
"I hate the name," he said moodily.
"What in all the world has the name to do with the matter?" answered the Councillor; "and really Herr Philip Schmidt will take it as a matter of course that it should be a great honour to him to make the personal acquaintance of Count Golm; and, furthermore, Herr Schmidt is not only a rich but a rising man, and, as our contractor, is very intimate with our banker, Herr Hugo Lübbener, who is also Count Golm's banker--enfin, the most appropriate individual to arrange a temporary difficulty for the Count, or if as I can fancy this way would not suit him, to enable him to settle the various accounts with Lübbener in the most speedy manner."
"But one cannot storm a man's very door," cried the Count; "you must at least make some excuse for me."
"That is easily done," said the Councillor; "Herr Schmidt is the happy possessor of one of our finest private picture-galleries. Count Golm's passion for art is well known; what more natural than that Count Golm should call upon Herr Schmidt, as Herr Schmidt, with the best will in the world, cannot bring his gallery to the Count's hotel?"
"Only that nine o'clock in the evening is perhaps not the best hour for such a purpose," said the Count, looking at the clock.
"For what purpose were reflectors invented?" answered the Councillor, smiling.
"I will go with you!" exclaimed the Count, springing up.
The Councillor coughed behind his hat, and thus happily hid the smile that played about his broad, beardless lip.
"After all it will not do," said the Count. "I promised Herr von Werben----"