"Just what Herr von Wallbach said," said Giraldi. "But pardon me, Councillor, it is rather warm here----"
"You will not come up again!"
"On no account."
"Perhaps you are right," said the Councillor. "I would go with you if it were not for Lübbener, who is sure to be up there----"
"I did not see him."
"You must have overlooked our little friend. I wanted to tell him something that I have just heard from the Minister who sent for me, and has only just set me free, and which I hope may be useful to him in tomorrow's battle."
"Then I will take leave of you. I am really tired to death."
The Councillor had not yet let go the button of Giraldi's coat. Through the comparative silence of these downstairs rooms sounded from above the wild strains of a furious waltz, and the dumb rush and sweep of the dancers, whose whirling steps made the magnificent building tremble as if with ague.
"They are dancing over a volcano," said the Councillor in a low voice. "Believe me, he cannot hold out; it is impossible. We have been obliged to pay him with shares, of course, like all the world. How he is to meet his engagements now that our shares have fallen to twenty--heaven only knows. I calculate that the man will be ruined in three weeks at the latest, and we with him."
"I regret it extremely, but if the world were coming to an end in half an hour, I should go to bed now."