'How happy I am to see you!' And he bowed humbly.
'Brühl, you alone can save me!' said Pauli. 'Just imagine, I have not yet had my breakfast! When will that courier arrive?'
The page looked at the clock and shrugged his shoulders.
'Chi lo sa?' he answered in that language which with French, was then used at court, for Italians were then quite numerous in Dresden.
'Eleven! and I have not had my breakfast! I shall die of starvation!' Having said this, Pauli yawned once more and shivered.
Brühl stood thoughtful, then he whispered in Pauli's ear:
'Est modus in rebus! Why do you sit here as though you were on a public road? There is a room with a door opening on the corridor leading to the kitchen; there I could manage to get you served with something.'
The councillor's eyes brightened, and he tried to rise, always a difficulty with him. He was obliged to put both hands on the arms of the chair, and leaning heavily on his elbows, at length succeeded.
'My dear boy,' he exclaimed, 'help me then, if you can.'
Brühl nodded and they disappeared through the door of the next room. Here, as though Pauli had been expected, some enchanted force had prepared a table. There stood a large chair, as if made for him, and on the snow-white table a soup tureen, a covered dish and a large bottle of golden wine.