Page:The Reminiscences of Carl Schurz (Volume One).djvu/304

 gold-red hair and a thin gold-red beard; he also suffered from a chronic inflammation of his eyelids so that his eyes seemed to have been framed in red. Not only his amiable disposition and his bubbling wit, but also his keen, critical mind and his comprehensive knowledge made him a most agreeable and much-desired companion. Nobody would have anticipated at that time that this jolly comrade who found so much enjoyment in continuing his university life beyond the ordinary measure of years, and who had already, in a high degree, acquired the oddities of an incorrigible student loiterer, would later distinguish himself as a most excellent public administrator, as a popular burgomaster of Cologne, and as a member of the Prussian House of Lords.

We had become close friends in consequence of our common political sympathies. He was not only at that time the editor of a democratic paper, but also the leader of the democratic club in Cologne, and I could safely count upon it that if anybody cherished a purpose to liberate Kinkel during the impending trial for the Siegburg affair, he would certainly know it all. Becker told me with the utmost frankness what had been planned and that all the world talked about “something that must be done.” It became clear to me at once that if all the world talked about it, an attempt could not possibly succeed, and I was rejoiced to hear Becker himself share this conviction. Thus I was satisfied that nothing would be done in Cologne that might be apt to render later attempts more difficult of success.

The secret of my presence in Cologne was communicated to my nearest friends and to many others with such unconcern that I thought it was time to leave. Therefore I took a night train by way of Brussels to Paris. My intentions with regard to Kinkel I had confided to nobody in Cologne. Becker knew