"His Majesty has issued the command to every part of his country, and therefore to Netzig, that the citizens shall at last awake from their slumbers. That is what we want, too!"
Jadassohn, the major and Pastor Zillich manifested their wakefulness by thumping the table, shouting their applause, and toasting one another. The major shouted: "To us officers His Majesty said: 'These are the gentlemen upon whom I can rely!'"
"And to us," cried Pastor Zillich, "he said, if the Church has need of princes—"
They abandoned all restraint, for the restaurant was quite empty, Lauer and Heuteufel had slipped away unnoticed, and the gas had been turned out at the end of the room.
"He also said—" Diederich puffed out his cheeks until they were fiery red and his moustache seemed to stick into his eyes, but still he thundered impressively. "We stand under the emblem of commerce, and so we do. Under his exalted leadership we are determined to get trade."
"And to make a career!" Jadassohn crowed. "His Majesty has said that everybody is welcome who wishes to help him. Does anybody suggest that this does not include me?" he asked in a challenging tone, his bloodshot eyes gleaming. The major bellowed once more:
"My King can rely on me for a dead certainty. He dismissed me too soon, as an honest German citizen I am not afraid to say that to his face. He will have bitter need of me when trouble begins. I have no intention of only firing off crackers at club balls for the rest of my life. I was at Sedan!"
"God bless me soul, so was I!" cried a shrill piping voice out of the invisible depths, and out the shadows appeared a little old man with long grey hair. He tottered up, his spectacles glitering, his cheeks glowing, and he shouted: "Major Kunze! Well, well! my old pal, you are as well as when we
