ed a half-forgotten minister's anecdote from the time of
the elder Ladenberg, who, upon receiving the Order of the Red Eagle,
for which he had long been waiting, threw it down in a rage and
exclaimed: "Lie there till you turn black." It probably did turn into
a black one subsequently, but many days too late and certainly without
real satisfaction for the receiver. Everything that is to give us
pleasure must come at the right time and in the right circumstances,
for what delights us today may be valueless tomorrow. Innstetten felt
this deeply, and as certainly as he had formerly laid store by honors
and distinctions coming from his highest superiors, just so certainly
was he now firmly convinced that the glittering appearance of things
amounted to but little, and that what is called happiness, if it
existed at all, is something other than this appearance. "Happiness,
if I am right, lies in two things: being exactly where one
belongs--but what official can say that of himself?--and, especially,
performing comfortably the most commonplace functions, that is,
getting enough sleep and not having new boots that pinch. When the 720
minutes of a twelve-hour day pass without any special annoyance that
can be called a happy day."

Innstetten was today in the mood for such gloomy reflections. When he
took up the second letter and read it he ran his hand over his
forehead, with the painful feeling that there is such a thing as
happiness, that he had once possessed it, but had lost it and could
never again recover it. Johanna entered and announced Privy Councillor
Wuellersdorf, who was already standing on the threshold and said:
"Congratulations, Innstetten."

"I believe you mean what you say; the others will be vexed. However--"

"However. You are surely not going to be pessimistic at a moment like
this."

"No. The graciousness of His Majesty makes me feel ashamed, and the
friendly feeling of the minister, to whom I owe all this, almost
more."

"But--"

[Illustration: SUPPER AT A COURT BALL
_From the Painting by Adolph van Menzel_]

"But I have forgotten how to rejoice. If I said that to anybody but
you my words would be considered empty phrases. But you understand me.
Just look around you. How empty and deserted everything is! When
Johanna comes in, a so-called jewel, she startles me and frightens me.
Her stage entry," continued Innstetten, imitating Johanna's pose, "the
half comical shapeliness of her bust, which comes