An evil smile crossed the banker's compressed lips.
"It has cost me a great deal of trouble to convince them of it."
"So then----"
The banker nodded.
"And when?"
"I expect them every minute. They wanted me to show myself here, because my remaining away altogether--"
"Quite right! Quite true!" said the Councillor. "It is very, very painful--still--I will certainly--under these circumstances----"
And he made a step towards the cloakroom table.
"Councillor, you will not," cried Lübbener, holding fast by his coat-tail.
At this moment a tremendous flourish of trumpets sounded in the vestibule. The servants rushed from behind their table to the window. The pretty girls who had been waiting upon the ladies ran past them; "They are coming, they are coming."