"Are you reckoning them up already?" asked a second. "I really must run them over once," replied Brandow, closing the book; "have patience for a few minutes, gentlemen; it seems that there is a communication of some importance to be made to me. I'll be back again in a moment. Now may I ask your wishes?" "The communication I have to make is indeed of some importance, and might be best heard without witnesses. So it is only in your own interest that I request you to provide some place where we shall not be disturbed." "Have you considered that I shall probably have more to ask of you than you of me?" "I think I have considered everything; and that is probably more than you can say." They were standing somewhat apart from the others, speaking in low tones, and looking steadily into each other's eyes. "Come, then," said Brandow. "Who was that?" asked one of the gentlemen, whose autograph graced Brandow's betting-book. "A famous fellow!" cried Gustav von Plueggen. "Old schoolmate of mine; celebrated artist; talked about him all yesterday evening at the chairman's! Protege of Prince Prora's! Famous fellow! I'm going to have him paint me. In England every man of rank has himself painted with all his favorite horses and dogs, and all the rest of the family. Ever been in England, Kummerrow? Famous country--women, horses, sheep--everything famous!" CHAPTER XXXIII. They crossed the hall in silence, and, without exchanging a word, entered one of the rooms reserved for the private use of the members of the club, and which the servant opened for the two gentlemen at a sign from Brandow. A large hanging lamp, directly over a round table covered with green velvet, lighted the apartment tolerably well. Several arm-chairs, also covered with green velvet, stood around the table. "I suppose we shall be entirely undisturbed here," said Gotthold. "And I that the farce will not last long; you saw I was very busy." Brandow, as if in a fit of impatience, had drawn one of the chairs away from the table and thrown himself into it, but it was by no accident that his face was thus in the shadow, while the light streamed full on Gotthold's. "Very busy," repeated Brandow, drumming on the arm of the chair, "too busy not to be compelled to defer the account I have to settle with you until tomorrow morning. And if you should have the--the face to try to intimidate me, I say: Beware! beware! you do not yet know me; my patience is not inexhaustible, and however willing I might be to avoid a scandal, and for these few days, I freely confess, would fain escape it--if you urge me, and it must be--I am ready--ready at any moment."