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older than she wasand it was not expedient to keep her on the estate to become a rustic senorita like her mother。
Dona Luisa had also tired of ranch life； the social triumphs of her sister making her a little restless。 She was incapable of feeling jealous； but material ambitions made her anxious that her children should not bring up the rear of the procession in which the other grandchildren were cutting such a dashing figure。
During the year； most wonderful reports from Germany were finding their way to the Desnoyers home in the Capital。 〃The aunt from Berlin；〃 as the children called her； kept sending long letters filled with accounts of dances； dinners； hunting parties and titles many high…sounding and military titles；〃our brother； the Colonel；〃 〃our cousin； the Baron；〃 〃our uncle； the Intimate Councillor；〃 〃our great…uncle； the Truly Intimate。〃 All the extravagances of the German social ladder； which incessantly manufactures new titles in order to satisfy the thirst for honors of a people divided into castes； were enumerated with delight by the old Romantica。 She even mentioned her husband's secretary （a nobody） who； through working in the public offices； had acquired the title of Rechnungarath； Councillor of Calculations。 She also referred with much pride to the retired Oberpedell which she had in her house； explaining that that meant 〃Superior Porter。〃
The news about her children was no less glorious。 The oldest was the wise one of the family。 He was devoted to philology and the historical sciences； but his sight was growing weaker all the time because of his omnivorous reading。 Soon he would be a Doctor； and before he was thirty； a Herr Professor。 The mother lamented that he had not military aspirations； considering that his tastes had somewhat distorted the lofty destinies of the family。 Professorships； sciences and literature were more properly the perquisites of the Jews； unable； because of their race； to obtain preferment in the army； but she was trying to console herself by keeping in mind that a celebrated professor could； in time； acquire a social rank almost equal to that of a colonel。
Her other four sons would become officers。 Their father was preparing the ground so that they might enter the Guard or some aristocratic regiment without any of the members being able to vote against their admission。 The two daughters would surely marry； when they had reached a suitable age with officers of the Hussars whose names bore the magic 〃von〃 of petty nobility； haughty and charming gentlemen about whom the daughter of Misia Petrona waxed most enthusiastic。
The establishment of the Hartrotts was in keeping with these new relationships。 In the home in Berlin； the servants wore knee… breeches and white wigs on the nights of great banquets。 Karl had bought an old castle with pointed towers； ghosts in the cellars； and various legends of assassinations； assaults and abductions which enlivened its history in an interesting way。 An architect； decorated with many foreign orders； and bearing the title of 〃Councillor of Construction；〃 was engaged to modernize the mediaeval edifice without sacrificing its terrifying aspect。 The Romantica described in anticipation the receptions in the gloomy salon； the light diffused by electricity； simulating torches； the crackling of the emblazoned hearth with its imitation logs bristling with flames of gas； all the splendor of modern luxury combined with the souvenirs of an epoch of omnipotent nobilitythe best； according to her； in history。 And the hunting parties； the future hunting parties！ 。 。 。 in an annex of sandy and loose soil with pine woods in no way comparable to the rich ground of their native ranch； but which had the honor of being trodden centuries ago by the Princes of Brandenburg； founders of the reigning house of Prussia。 And all this advancement in a single year！ 。 。 。
They had； of course； to compete with other oversea families who had amassed enormous fortunes in the United States； Brazil or the Pacific coast； but these were Germans 〃without lineage；〃 coarse plebeians who were struggling in vain to force themselves into the great world by making donations to the imperial works。 With all their millions； the very most that they could ever hope to attain would be to marry their daughters with ordinary soldiers。 Whilst Karl！ 。 。 。 The relatives of Karl！ 。 。 。 and the Romantica let her pen run on； glorifying a family in whose bosom she fancied she had been born。
From time to time were enclosed with Elena's effusions brief； crisp notes directed to Desnoyers。 The brother…in…law continued giving an account of his operations the same as when living on the ranch under his protection。 But with this deference was now mixed a badly concealed pride； an evident desire to retaliate for his times of voluntary humiliation。 Everything that he was doing was grand and glorious。 He had invested his millions in the industrial enterprises of modern Germany。 He was stockholder of munition factories as big as towns； and of navigation companies launching a ship every half year。 The Emperor was interesting himself in these works； looking benevolently on all those who wished to aid him。 Besides this； Karl was buying land。 At first sight； it seemed foolish to have sold the fertile fields of their inheritance in order to acquire sandy Prussian wastes that yielded only to much artificial fertilizing； but by becoming a land owner； he now belonged to the 〃Agrarian Party；〃 the aristocratic and conservative group par excellence； and thus he was living in two different but equally distinguished worldsthat of the great industrial friends of the Emperor； and that of the Junkers； knights of the countryside； guardians of the old traditions and the supply…source of the officials of the King of Prussia。
On hearing of these social strides； Desnoyers could not but think of the pecuniary sacrifices which they must represent。 He knew Karl's past； for on the ranch； under an impulse of gratitude； the German had one day revealed to the Frenchman the cause of his coming to America。 He was a former officer in the German army； but the desire of living ostentatiously without other resources than his salary； had dragged him into committing such reprehensible acts as abstracting funds belonging to the regiment； incurring debts of honor and paying for them with forged signatures。 These crimes had not been officially prosecuted through consideration of his father's memory； but the members of his division had submitted him to a tribunal of honor。 His brothers and friends had advised him to shoot himself as the only remedy； but he loved life and had fled to South America where； in spite of humiliations； he had finally triumphed。
Wealth effaces the spots of the past even more rapidly than Time。 The news of his fortune on the other side of the ocean made his family give him a warm reception on his first voyage home； introducing him again into their world。 Nobody could remember shameful stories about a few hundred marks concerning a man who was talking about his father…in…law's lands； more extensive than many German principalities。 Now； upon installing himself definitely in his country；