"Thou expectest to see friends from Genf in yonder bark?" said the Herr
Hofmeister, abruptly.
"And thou?"
"A friend, and one more than a friend;" answered the bailiff, evasively.
"My advices tell me that Melchior de Willading will sojourn among us
during the festival of the Abbaye, and secret notice has been sent that
there will be another here, who wishes to see our merry-making, without
pretension to the honors that he might fairly claim."
"It is not rare for nobles of mark, and even princes, to visit us on these
occasions, under feigned names and without the _eclat_ of their rank, for
the great, when they descend to follies, seldom like to bring their high
condition within their influence."
"The wiser they. I have my own troubles with these accursed fooleries,
for--it may be a weakness, but it is one that is official--I cannot help
imagining that a bailiff cuts but a shabby figure before the people, in
the presence of so many gods and goddesses. To own to thee the truth, I
rejoice that he who cometh, cometh as he doth.--Hast letters of late date
from Berne?"
"None; though report says that there is like to be a change among some of
those who fill the public trusts.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214