California -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Short stories, American; Western stories
The Ober-Inspector rose with another bow, and moved toward the door. “I
hope you will let me make amends for this intrusion by doing anything I
can to render your visit here a pleasant one. Perhaps,” he added, “it is
not for long.”
But Hoffman evaded the evident question, as he resented what he imagined
was a possible sneer.
“I have not yet determined my movements,” he said.
The Ober-Inspector brought his heels together in a somewhat stiffer
military salute and departed.
Nothing, however, could have exceeded the later almost servile urbanity
of the landlord, who seemed to have been proud of the official visit to
his guest. He was profuse in his attentions, and even introduced him to
a singularly artistic-looking man of middle age, wearing an order in his
buttonhole, whom he met casually in the hall.
“Our Court photographer,” explained the landlord with some fervor,
“at whose studio, only a few houses distant, most of the Hoheiten and
Prinzessinen of Germany have sat for their likenesses.”
“I should feel honored if the distinguished American Herr would give
me a visit,” said the stranger gravely, as he gazed at Hoffman with an
intensity which recalled the previous scrutiny of the Police Inspector,
“and I would be charmed if he would avail himself of my poor skill to
transmit his picturesque features to my unique collection.”
Hoffman returned a polite evasion to this invitation, although he was
conscious of being struck with this second examination of his face, and
the allusion to his personality.
The next morning the porter met him with a mysterious air. The Herr
would still like to see the Schloss? Hoffman, who had quite forgotten
his adventure in the park, looked vacant. JA WOHL--the Hof authorities
had no doubt heard of his visit and had intimated to the hotel
proprietor that he might have permission to visit the model farm and
dairy. As the American still looked indifferent the porter pointed out
with some importance that it was a Ducal courtesy not to be lightly
treated; that few, indeed, of the burghers themselves had ever been
admitted to this eccentric whim of the late Grand Duchess. He would, of
course, be silent about it; the Court would not like it known that they
had made an exception to their rules in favor of a foreigner; he would
enter quickly and boldly alone. There would be a housekeeper or a
dairymaid to show him over the place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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