Night falls, a haze of purple and gold. Lights and noise herald the hour of café and tavern. A flower-seller passes. I am to dine tonight at the Colonel's. I must take Frau von Wendel a bunch of Vergiss-mein-nicht!...
[1]W. Meyer-Forster: Baron von Heidenstamm. Part I. 1.
[III]
ONE morning in December I was snugly ensconced by my big log fire, preparing a lesson for the afternoon. There was a dry, cold snap in the air, and the pale winter sun was dissolving, the night's mist in opal drops on my windows.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Outside stood Otto, an ex-non-commissioned officer and head-butler, in fact, the connecting link between the palace officials and the horde of valets, workmen and supers whom he had under his orders. His white shirt-front and round red face stood out sharply against the dark background of the corridor. Behind him loomed two men bearing some strange bundles.
"Excuse me, Herr Professor. I hope I am not disturbing you?"
"No, Otto. What is it?"
He came in, followed by the two men, who had their arms full of bunches of flags.