Reinhold had got to his room, and was thrusting his unfortunate dress-coat back into his travelling-bag and considering what the President’s mysterious words might mean, when there came a knock at his door. It was Johann, who came to inquire if Captain Schmidt would receive the President for a few minutes? Reinhold sent the servant back to say that he would come at once to receive the President’s commands, and followed him immediately.
The President received his midnight guest with a cordiality which struck Reinhold the more that till now he had thought that the reserved and rather haughty-looking old gentleman had hardly noticed him. The President must have read Reinhold’s thoughts in his face, for as he invited him to sit by him on the sofa, he said, “I must begin with a confession. It is my habit, nourished and perhaps justified by a long official career, to observe a certain, often I dare say too great, reserve towards all who for the first time come under my notice. But whenever I have good reason for interesting myself in anyone my interest is full and entire. You, Captain—or must I, like my worthy friend, call you Lieutenant Schmidt?”
“Supposing you omit any title, President?”
“Very well—you, Herr Schmidt, interest me. You are frank and bold by nature, and have fortunately remained so although you have thought and studied and learned more than most members of your profession. However, I am not keeping you from your night’s rest only to make you this very sincere compliment. I have two requests to make of you, of which the first is easy to grant, provided that your expedition after the Neptune is not merely an excuse.”
“An excuse, President?”
“You took my side on the harbour question too warmly not to come into collision with the Count, whose sensitiveness on this point is unfortunately only too easy to understand. You would perhaps avoid, for the sake of the rest of the party, a possible continuation of the discussion which puts our host into such an inhospitable temper, and—” The President’s keen eyes shot a rapid glance at Reinhold’s face, as he coughed behind his white hand.
“That is exactly the state of the case, President,” said Reinhold.
“I thought so. You will then in a few hours be on board the Neptune. I left lying about in my berth a document which I was studying on the way—a memorial to the Minister upon that very harbour question, and upon the condition of our water-highways, pilotage, coast-beacons—reforms in all these directions—and other matters. I should not like the papers to fall into strange hands even for a time; and you would greatly oblige me—”
“Thank you heartily for the confidence you put in me, President,” said Reinhold; “the papers shall reach you in safety—”
“But not before you have looked into them,” interrupted the President quickly. “And this is the prelude to my second request. You look surprised. The matter is simply this. The worthy old Superintendent of pilots at Wissow must, and will, soon retire. The post will be vacant next spring, perhaps even in the course of the winter. In the present state of affairs, with the many questions which are sure to crop up and require attention, the position is one of importance, far exceeding that usually attached to similar posts. I can only propose to the Minister for this post a thoroughly trustworthy and intelligent man, and one of whom I know that he will heartily support my plans from conviction of their propriety. Now if you can find such conviction for yourself in those papers, and would willingly continue the work with me, I would, with your permission, send in your name to the Minister.”
“Really, President,” said Reinhold, “you offer me such great and flattering confidence, a man of whom you really know nothing—”
“That is my affair,” interrupted the President, smiling. “The question is now, are you inclined—supposing, of course, that the other circumstances of the position, which are not brilliant, but still sufficient, should suit you—to agree to my proposal? I do not expect, I do not even wish, for any answer at present; I only ask for it when you return the papers to me at Sundin, and we can discuss the matter further over a cutlet and a glass of Burgundy.”
The President rose. Reinhold felt that he must accede to the wishes of this strange man, and not further pursue the question here or now, and took his leave, expressing his thanks in a few words which came from his heart, and were received by the President with a kindly smile. He had already reached the door when the President called after him:
“If you like to hand over to my servant anything which might be in your way for your expedition, it shall be carefully looked after among my luggage, and kept as a pledge for my papers.”
A bow from the aristocratic grey head, a wave of the slender white hand, and Reinhold was dismissed.
“Very graciously, but very much as if I were already in the Government service
