"And now, most grave and most conscientious of men, seeing that you go into this election campaign as into actual war, let us drink that victory may be on your side--that is, on ours, on the side of liberty, and right--and that the victor be granted, over and above his allotted time, as special allowance for special services rendered, a respectable series of not inglorious years, at least as many as this '68 Rüdesheimer wine numbers!" The lawyer took a venerable-looking bottle, from a side table, filled a couple of green goblets, and touched Bertram's with his own. "I thank you for the kindly wish, and drink to its fulfilment, although as you know, I have well-founded reasons for assuming that it will not occur." "Nonsense!" cried the lawyer. "I am not a giant either, but I confidently expect to outlive all the giants among my contemporaries. What does Wallenstein say?--'Es ist der Geist der sich den Körper bauet' (It is the mind that builds, this frame of ours). And I would add, that also keeps the building together, even if it were shaky in every joint; and that is assuredly far from being the case with you." Bertram smiled absently. His looks were wandering away to the garden gate. "I wonder where Otto can be?" he said. "I urgently asked him to be here at four o'clock at the latest." "I am in no hurry at all," replied the lawyer. "After having had to keep you waiting the whole forenoon, my entire evening is at your disposal instead; or, if you insist upon leaving at five, we can have another second witness in, and you can communicate to our friend in writing those points which have special reference to him." "I am most anxious to do so by word of mouth." Upon the wretched pavement of the narrow street which lay behind the garden wall, a carriage came hurriedly thundering along. "_Lupus in fabula!_" exclaimed the lawyer. "Any one coming from Rinstedt would have to pass this way." As he spoke, Otto's broad-shouldered figure appeared in the little yard. The two men had meanwhile risen from their seats below the chestnut-trees, and had gone to meet the newcomer. "What tricks are these of yours?" Otto was saying, "to cut away from the village in the middle of the night in a trap? What will people think? Why, that I am driving my guests from my house! But, of course, you intellectual people never can do things like the rest of us mortals; always something out of the way! Eh, old fellow?" He brought his hand with a laugh down upon Bertram's shoulders; but the laugh was forced, and, indeed, in all his look and manner there was painful unrest. "I am sorry that I must leave you gentlemen alone for a little," said the lawyer, with a meaning look at Bertram; "but you can call me at any time from the office. By the way, there is an empty glass here, Bermer. You must be thirsty after your drive along the hot road, and you have not in your own cellars at Rinstedt a better Rüdesheimer than this."