By what flying panic, by what thrill of air communicated, who shall say?
but the passing bustle in the Palace had already reached and re-echoed in the region of the burghers.

Rumour, with her loud whisper, hissed about the town; men left their homes without knowing why; knots formed along the boulevard; under the rare lamps and the great limes the crowd grew blacker.
And now through the midst of that expectant company, the unusual sight of a closed litter was observed approaching, and trotting hard behind it that great dignitary Cancellarius Greisengesang.

Silence looked on as it went by; and as soon as it was passed, the whispering seethed over like a boiling pot.

The knots were sundered; and gradually, one following another, the whole mob began to form into a procession and escort the curtained litter.

Soon spokesmen, a little bolder than their mates, began to ply the Chancellor with questions.