Part 4 (1/2)
”I know it; you are the same peace-loving old Benno that you always were, who never could say a cross word to anyone, and who consequently was maltreated by his beloved fellow-beings whenever an opportunity offered. How often have I told you that you never could get on in the world so! and to get on in the world is what we all desire.”
”You certainly are striding on in seven-league boots,” said Reinsfeld, dryly. ”You are the acknowledged favourite, they say, of the omnipotent President Nordheim. I saw him again lately at Wolkenstein Court.”
”Saw him again? Did you know him before?”
”Certainly, in my boyhood. He and my father were friends and fellow-students; Nordheim used to come to our house daily; I have sat upon his knee often enough when he spent the evening with us.”
”Indeed? Well, I hope you reminded him of it when you met him.”
”No; Baron Thurgau did not mention my name----”
”And of course you did not do so either,” said Wolfgang, laughing.
”Just like you! Chance brings you into contact with an influential man whose mere word would procure you an advantageous position, and you never even tell him your name! I shall repair your omission; the first time I see the president I shall tell him----”
”Pray do no such thing. Wolf,” Benno interrupted him. ”You had better say nothing about it.”
”And why not?”
”Because--the man has risen to such a height in life that he might not like to be reminded of the time when he was a simple engineer.”
”You do him injustice. He is proud of his humble origin, as all clever men are, and he could not fail to be pleased to be reminded of an early friend.”
Reinsfeld gently shook his head. ”I am afraid the memory would be a painful one. Something happened later,--I never knew what,--I was a boy at the time; but I know that the breach was complete. Nordheim never came again to our house, and my father avoided even the mention of his name; they were entirely estranged.”
”Then of course you could not reckon upon his favour,” said Elmhorst, in a disappointed tone. ”The president seems to me to be one who never forgives a supposed offence.”
”Yes, they say he has grown extremely haughty and domineering. I wonder that you can get along with him. You are not a man to cringe.”
”That is precisely why he likes me. I leave cringing and fawning to servile souls who may perhaps thus procure some subordinate position.
Whoever wishes really to rise must hold his head erect and keep his eyes fixed upon the goal above him, or he will continue to crawl on the ground.”
”I suppose your goal is a couple of millions,” Benno said, ironically.
”You never were very modest in your plans for the future. What do you wish to be? The president of your company?”
”Perhaps so at some future time; for the present only his son-in-law.”
”I thought there was something of the kind in your mind!” exclaimed Benno, bursting into a laugh. ”Of course you are sure to be right, Wolf; but why not rather pluck down yonder sun from the sky? It would be quite as easy.”
”Do you fancy I am in jest?” asked Wolfgang, coolly.
”Yes, I do take that liberty, for you cannot be serious in aspiring to the daughter of a man whose wealth and consequence are almost proverbial. Nordheim's heiress may choose among any number of Freiherrs and Counts, if indeed she does not prefer a millionaire.”
”Then all the Freiherrs and Counts must be outdone,” said the young engineer, calmly, ”and that is what I propose to do.”
Dr. Reinsfeld suddenly paused and looked at his friend with some anxiety; he even made a slight movement as if to feel his pulse.
”Then you are either a little off your head or in love,” he remarked, with decision. ”For a lover nothing is impossible, and this visit to Heilborn seems to be fraught with destiny for you. My poor boy, this is very sad.”
”In love?” Wolfgang repeated, a smile of ineffable contempt curling his lip. ”No, Benno, you know I never have either time or inclination to think of love, and now less than ever. But do not look so shocked, as if I were talking high treason. I give you my word that Alice Nordheim, if she marries me, shall never repent it. She shall have the most attentive and considerate of husbands.”