The pastor said grace before the dinner began, which seemed to surprise the Landrath, but the Chamberlain was much edified.  The Young Men’s Verein played dance-music and marches in front of the open windows.  Paul proposed the health of the emperor, whereupon the Landrath, in a carefully worded speech, drank to the host and the ladies.  They all clinked glasses with an enthusiasm which was in no way feigned, but perfectly accountable after so splendid a dinner and such well-assorted wines.  In the midst of the gayety and noise, and while the clarionets and trumpets blared away outside, Paul turned to his neighbor, and tapping the foot of his glass against the edge of Schrotter’s, he whispered to him, unheard by the others:  “To his memory!” He turned his head away abruptly, bent over his glass, and was busily engaged in furtively passing his table-napkin across his face and eyes.  Schrotter put his lips to his glass and closed his eyes.  One could positively trace upon his broad brow how a thought passed over it like a shadow.

The dinner lasted fully two hours, and brought Malvine in many a fiery compliment, especially from the chamberlain, which she could accept with a good conscience, knowing well how much she would have to pay to the great Hamburg pastry-cook who had provided it.  At dessert the heir was handed round.  Willy, who was really beginning to grow a little, was unquestionably a well-bred child.  He went with much dignity and propriety from guest to guest, closely followed by Fido, who had grown far too stout, offered his cheek politely to each one, shook hands prettily, and was permitted to withdraw, accompanied by his short-winded dog, after they had all sufficiently admired him.

After dinner the guests amused themselves according to their several tastes.  Some went to enjoy Paul’s excellent cigars in the smoking room, others went down to the village to look on at the rural festival arranged by the master for his people, and where, between singing, music, dancing, and drinking, the fun ran high; others again took a walk through the fields of the estate where the young crops were just coming up, spreading a green haze over the yellow coating of sand.  It was altogether a radiant picture of joy and prosperity; and the happiest of all, whether of the guests flushed with the good dinner or the villagers stamping on the green, seemed to be the master of the house.  He was rich, respected, full of health and spirits, his family life unclouded; he had a high position, possessed numberless decorations, was a captain of the Landwehr, had been promoted to the cavalry, and now was even raised to the nobility.  What more could he desire?

Well then, if he seemed happy appearances were deceptive.  A worm gnawed at his heart.  He had hoped to be created Freiherr—­baron—­and here he was a simple “Herr von.”  How rarely is happiness perfect here below.

Pleading important business next morning in Berlin, Schrotter left soon after four o’clock.  He would not hear of Paul’s deserting his guests to accompany him to the station, as he was most anxious to do, but drove alone to Harburg, and took the train that left at five o’clock, bringing him to Berlin by way of Uelzen.