CHAPTER X.
DECORATION WITH THREE EXCLAMATION MARKS.
An audience had been requested of the Princess, that the Sonnenkampfamily might present their thanks. The answer returned was that theFrau Professorin would be welcome, thus refusing to admit Sonnenkamp.
He next desired that Roland should write a letter of thanks to thePrincess for the Professorin to hand to her, but several rough drafts,which his son wrote out, he so roughly discarded, that the poor boy wasthrown into a state of feverish excitement which threatened to bring ona relapse. He was quieted by the interposition of the Professorin, whopromised to deliver by word of mouth all that he had to say; but thisscene put a violent end to the childlike affectionateness which hadsprung up in him since his illness.
While the Professorin was at the palace, Sonnenkamp promenaded thepalace garden, where he could keep in sight the carriage and servants,determined to hear at once what should be said of him there. This wasthe most painful experience that the Professorin had yet had toundergo. She was obliged to acquiesce in the Princess' praises ofSonnenkamp's generous nature, his extensive charities, and his noblemagnanimity, of which the Cabinetsraethin, lady of honor to the queen,had given a full report, and nothing was left the Professorin but tolisten, without the power to speak a word of contradiction. It was afresh proof to her of the false position in which she was placed, andthe dishonest game to which she had been made to lend a hand; first inthe convent, and now at court. Yet she dared not raise her voiceagainst this noble reputation of Sonnenkamp's, for in what light wouldshe herself appear if she should confess what she knew?
When she was re-entering the carriage, after her audience from thePrincess, a voice which cried "Stop!" made her tremble from head tofoot. Sonnenkamp seated himself beside her, and required her to tellhim instantly what the Princess had said. His delight at her reportmade him so far forget himself as to exclaim aloud,--
"Roland's illness has been a blessing to us all,--by giving us theright to call the Frau Professorin our friend," he quickly added, byway of correction. Even that she had to accept in silence, and wasfurther distressed by being obliged to repeat the Princess' words forthe benefit of Pranken, who, with Clodwig, now joined them.
She felt herself hemmed in on every side, and excusing herself early,she withdrew, in the hope of finding again in solitude her true self.
Clodwig had come, as member of the Committee upon Orders, to announceconfidentially to Sonnenkamp that an order had been decreed him.Pranken embraced him when they were again alone together, exclaiming,--
"That is the first step, the first sure step."
Sonnenkamp was greatly delighted, and begged Pranken to wait while hehurried to carry the good news to Frau Ceres.
"So that is for you," she said, complainingly; "what is there for me?"
He assured her that the title of nobility would certainly followspeedily.
"Oh, but it takes so long," she complained.
He confessed to some disappointment and vexation on his own part at theslowness and formality with which everything in the Old World wasconducted, but recommended patience.
"It is a good thing, to be sure," replied Frau Ceres, "that you shouldhave an order; every one in society will see now at once that you arenot a servant."
Sonnenkamp smilingly shook his head, but avoided any long discussionswith Frau Ceres.
A few days afterwards, carriage after carriage drew up before the doorof the hotel, bringing congratulations. Sonnenkamp affected greatmodesty, but Roland did not disguise his pleasure and pride, andinsisted that his father should never go out without his newdecoration.
The following sentence, however, in Professor Crutius's paper addedbitterness to their cup of joy:--
"(Market price of Honors) Herr Sonnenkamp, of Villa Eden, transplantedfrom Havana, has received, from the highest quarter, the cross of honorfor his services, it is said, in the ennobling of horticulture, whichincludes the ennobling of the horticulturist. Nothing now is wanting inthe garden of Eden but that genealogical tree, which flourishes soexcellently in our favored land."
There were malicious persons enough ready to express to Sonnenkamptheir indignation at this would-be witty sharpness, while they watchedhim with curiosity to see what face he would put upon the matter. Heappeared quite indifferent, but inwardly resolved to buy over that mostvirtuous of moralists, called Public Opinion.
He went to the publishing office, was shown into the editor's room, andwas received with the utmost politeness by Professor Crutius. He openedthe conversation by saying that he knew very well how to take a joke,and that his life in America had familiarized him with publicity; whichremarks Crutius saw no occasion for answering. With greatcondescension, Sonnenkamp proceeded to express his pleasure at findingthe Professor in such an influential position; Crutius bowed hisacknowledgments. A little gas jet was burning in the editor's room, atwhich Sonnenkamp asked permission to light his cigar, offering one atthe same time to Crutius, who accepted with thanks.
"I remember," began Sonnenkamp, "a bold and striking remark which youmade on the occasion of my having the honor of receiving a visit fromyou; you had the courage to say that America was approaching amonarchical form of government."
"I remember saying so," replied Crutius, "half in jest and half inearnest, and I threw out the remark not merely as starting a goodsubject of conversation, but because I was of opinion that thereluctance of the best men in America to take part in politics was asign of approaching monarchy."
"And you are no longer of that opinion?" asked Sonnenkamp, as Crutiuspaused.
He knew that he was reported to be in league with the party who wereaiming to form an empire in Mexico, and thence to extend themonarchical form of government over the New World. It was a harmless,in some respects, an honorable reputation to have, that of being anagent for establishing a monarchy in the Southern States of the Union.Crutius sat for some time in silence, eyeing the figure before him witha keen and smiling glance. At last he said:--
"I am no longer of that opinion. The indifference of the better classesin America has ceased, as is evident from the papers as well as fromthe public meetings. I have also seen some letters written to HerrWeidmann by his nephew Dr. Fritz, which plainly prove that a change forthe better has taken place. All feel again their rights as citizens,and political and party strife is everywhere uppermost."
"Ah, Herr Weidmann," said Sonnenkamp; "I am told that that worthygentleman has a share in your paper."
"I know no man; I know nothing but party."
"The true American principle. That is good!" exclaimed Sonnenkamp, andwent on to express, in a friendly tone, the regret that all must feelat seeing the press here so far behind the high standard attained inother countries. For that reason he should be very willing, he said, ifa man of the Professor's experience would establish a new journal, tocome forward to its support with a considerable sum of money, as wellas to communicate important items of intelligence from his privatecorrespondence.
"The matter is worth considering," replied Crutius. He went to hisstrong box and opened it, evidently with the intention of returning toSonnenkamp the money he had formerly received from him, but saying,almost in so many words, to himself:--No, not yet; you shall have apublic receipt for it by and by,--he closed the box, and, resuming hisseat opposite Sonnenkamp, began:--
"I have an apology to make to you; at the time I had the honor ofvisiting you at your villa, I took you to be the notorious Banfield."
He carefully watched the expression of his visitor's face as he spoke.
"Thank you for telling me so," replied Sonnenkamp, very tranquilly."The only way to clear up such a misunderstanding is to tell it to aman's face. Unfortunately, I have been often confounded with that man,and once actually went to Virginia in order to become personallyacquainted with this double of mine; but he died just as I arrivedthere."
"Indeed! I had not heard of his death, and am somewhat
surprised thatHerr Weidmann's nephew, who was at open war with Banfield, should nothave informed me of it. But it is astonishing what a strong resemblancethere is between yourself and him. Of course I shall not mention thecircumstance in my obituary of Banfield."
"As far as I myself am concerned," said Sonnenkamp, smiling, "it wouldmake no difference; but you know the delight which the Europeanaristocracy takes in any American scandal, and such a connection ofnames might to my wife and children be--well, might be verydisagreeable."
Crutius protested that all personalities were wholly indifferent tohim; he dealt only with principles, a sentiment which Sonnenkampentirely approved and considered one of the advantages of Europeanculture.
Crutius accompanied Herr Sonnenkamp with great politeness, through theouter offices as far as the head of the staircase; but the air of theroom seemed to oppress him when he returned to it, and he threw openthe windows.
"It is he, nevertheless," he said to himself. "Take care. Knight of theCross of Honor, I have hold of you by another ribbon, and am onlygranting you a little longer time to flutter about me."
He hunted up the paper that contained the notice, made a broad red markand three exclamation marks on the margin, and laid the sheet by in aspecial compartment labelled, "For future use."