Part 58 (2/2)
The gentleman in the velvet coat stepped back, threw his chest out, lifted his much-tried hat, and said,
”I am Director Caspar Schmenckel, from Vienna.”
”Ah,” replied the other, lightly; ”glad to make your acquaintance. My name is Timm, Albert Timm.”
”You are not an artist?” said Mr. Schmenckel, confidentially.
”How so?” asked Mr. Timm, evasively.
Director Schmenckel imitated the gesture of one who throws a very heavy object with both hands straight up in the air, in order to let it fall again upon the neck.
”Aha!” said Mr. Timm, who quickly understood in which region of the fine arts the director had been gathering his laurels; ”pardon me that I was not personally acquainted with a man of your distinction; but I have only been here a few days.”
”Well, I thought so,” replied Mr. Schmenckel, as they proceeded arm in arm. ”You are a n.o.ble fellow; very different from these poor creatures hereabouts. You speak as you think; as you feel in your heart. Caspar Schmenckel likes such fellows, and if he can be of any service to you say the word and it's done.”
”Much obliged, director. Delighted to have the honor of your acquaintance. I presume you are performing here in the capital with your troupe?”
”Performing?--Hem! hem!” said Mr. Schmenckel, clearing his throat. ”To tell the truth, you do not see Director Schmenckel just now _in floribus_, I have been compelled by many reasons to disband my old troupe, and I am just now engaged in forming a new one--a task which has its difficulties, as you may imagine. In the meantime----”
”You are living in private?”
”In a certain way, yes; that is to say, I perform from time to time before a few friends; but, you know, only to keep my hand in, that is all.”
”Of course.”
”Thus I am in a certain way engaged to perform to-night in a very n.o.ble locality, where I meet the very best society; and if you will do me the honor----”
”You are very kind.”
”You will find very nice people there; perfectly free and easy; all of them democrats to the core, although they drink prodigiously little water, I should think. Ha, ha, ha! I have been a daily guest at the 'Dismal Hole' ever since the winter began, and yet I have never liked it so well as since we have gotten a new landlady. She has been there about a week.”
”Indeed!”
”I shall be proud to make you acquainted with her. Mrs. Rose Pape is a model of a woman.”
”What did you say?” suddenly asked Mr. Timm, with great animation.
”I said Mrs. Rose Pape is a capital woman.”
”Did you not say she had taken the business quite lately?”
”Yes; for she used to be a midwife. The French revolution has made her an innkeeper.”
”That is original.”
”Isn't it? But then Mrs. Rose is an original, too. She has a wonderful knack for business; and when the trouble commenced in Paris, she said: 'Now golden days are coming for beer-houses with female waiters!' The next day she had rented the 'Dismal Hole.'”
”I am exceedingly anxious to make the acquaintance of the excellent lady.”
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