e butterfly flew up again, and might have told those on the hill what
was passing in the valley below.

"Herr von Sonnenkamp," began the long lieutenant, "have the negroes any
musical talent?"

"The negroes are very fond of a kind of music of their own, which is
nothing but noise," replied Sonnenkamp; "and many wise men consider
that conversation which--" he paused for a word, but seemed to find
none sharp enough, and at the same time sufficiently polite. At last he
said--"which perhaps might pass for such in the little capital."

He joined the gay company, and, while the band played, they all walked
to the place where the carriages were waiting.

It so happened, neither knew how, that Manna and Eric walked together
through the woods. They went on, side by side, in silence, though each
had so much to say to the other.

"I hear," Manna began at last, "that Count Clodwig expressed himself
warmly against rank; did he think that distinction of birth was in any
way opposed to religion?"

"He said nothing of the kind."

Again they went on in silence.

"I wonder where our friend, Professor Einsiedel, has been to-day,"
began Manna again; "I am a pupil of his, too, now."

"It is a great privilege," answered Eric, "to know such a liberal,
devout mind."

They said no more, but both felt that there was a sort of sympathy
established between them by their reverence for the same man. Not only
was their faculty of reverence now the same, but there was a common
object of their reverence.

"Eric! Manna!" suddenly cried a voice, which was repeated by all the
echoes of the forest. They stood startled at hearing their names thus
coupled together, and sent back again, and again, by the stone figures
of the bridal procession.

Roland came back to find them, and, giving his right hand to Manna and
his left to Eric, led them thus to the carriage, in which all took
their seats.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHANGES WROUGHT IN MANY MINDS.

Sonnenkamp felt himself set aside by the Court, or rather completely
overlooked; but he could not demean himself by allowing any feeling of
wounded pride to appear, therefore he omitted none of the customary
salutations of respect, even when the Sovereign looked ungraciously at
him. That was the regular court service, to which he was determined to
accustom himself.

The day was fixed for the departure of the Prince and his retinue.
Sonnenkamp st