"He is not mentioned in polite society. But tell us about the duel--were you wounded?" "You see that scar," said the Professor, pointing to a slight disfigurement of his left cheek. "That was given me by Bismarck." "Oh, how interesting! It is almost like seeing Bismarck himself." "Prof. Poppendorf," said the Disagreeable Woman, "why do you not lecture on Bismarck, instead of the dry subject you have announced?" "You admire Bismarck, then, my dear lady?" "Not at all." "But I don't understand." "The people are interested in him. They don't care for the 'Material and the Immaterial.'" "That is a good suggestion, Professor," said the widow. "I would much rather hear about Bismarck. _I_ admire him. Why do you not, Miss Blagden?" "Because he was a second-hand autocrat," said the Disagreeable Woman. "Again I do not understand," said the Professor. "He was the servant of the Emperor. His authority did not come from the people." There was some further conversation, and Prof. Poppendorf promised that his next lecture should be upon Bismarck. CHAPTER IV. PROF. POPPENDORF'S LECTURE. We all sat at supper on Thursday evening. There was a general air of expectation. It was on this evening that Prof. Poppendorf was to give his lecture. We all gazed at him with more than ordinary interest. The old Professor, gray and grim-visaged, sat more than usually erect, and his manner and bearing were marked by unusual dignity. He felt himself to be the hero of the hour. I have neglected to say that Mrs. Wyman had been transferred to the seat adjoining mine. As she could not do without masculine attention I suspect that this arrangement was prompted by herself. Henceforth I was favored with the greater part of her conversation. "I am quite looking forward to Prof. Poppendorf's lecture!" she said. "You are going, are you not?" "I think so, but I can't say I am looking forward to it. I fancy it will be dry and difficult to understand." "You think he is a learned man, do you not?" "Very probably--in certain directions." "Dr. Fenwick, I am going to ask a favor of you." "I hope it isn't money," thought I, "for I was beginning to have some anxiety about my steadily dwindling bank account." "Name it, Mrs. Wyman," I said, somewhat nervously. "I am almost ashamed to say it, but I don't like to go to the lecture alone. Would you mind giving me your escort?" "With pleasure," I answered. My answer was not quite truthful, for I had intended to ask the young woman from Macy's to accompany me. She was not intellectual, but she had a fresh, country face and complexion; she came from Pomfret, Connecticut, and was at least ten years younger than Mrs. Wyman. But what could I say? I had not the moral courage to refuse a lady. "Thank you very much. Now I shall look forward to the evening with pleasure." "You are complimentary. Do you expect to understand the lecture?" "I don't know. I never gave much thought to the 'Material and Immaterial.'"