" Gretchen's eyes, which had
held only mildness and good-will, now sparkled with contempt.
A roar of laughter went up, for the majority of them thought that
Gretchen was indulging in a little pleasantry.
"Ho-ho! So you are on speaking terms with her highness?" Herr Goldberg
laughed.
"Is there anything strange in this fact?" she asked, keeping her tones
even.
The vintner made a sign to her, but she ignored it.
"Strange?" echoed Herr Goldberg, becoming furious at having the
interest in himself thus diverted. "Since when did goose-girls and
barmaids become on intimate terms with her serene highness?"
Gretchen pressed the vintner's arm to hold him in his chair.
"Does not your socialism teach that we are all equal?"
The vintner thumped with his stein in approval, and others imitated him.
Goldberg was no ordinary fool. He sidestepped defeat by an assumption of
frankness.
"Tell us about it. If I have spoken harshly it is only reasonable. Tell
us under what circumstance you met her highness and how she happened to
tell you this very important news. Every one knows that this marriage is
to take place."
Gretchen nodded. "Nevertheless, her highness has changed her mind." And
she recounted picturesquely her adventure in the royal gardens, and all
hung on her words in a kind of maze.
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