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.
It was nearly two in the morning when he reached home. He stole on
tiptoe into his room, but Bhani, whose sleep was light and restless
when he was not there, heard him directly. She stretched out her
arms to him with a low exclamation of joy, pressed him to her bosom
while he kissed her on the brow, and was for jumping up and
attending to his wants. He would not suffer it, and declared that he
wanted nothing. So she remained where she was, only following him
with her eyes while he unpacked his bag and put everything in order.
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