ast hour, what you ought to do?"

"To tell the honest truth, no. I simply wished to have you give me
something, an injunction of some sort to ease this constant torment and
fear of discovery."

"Wonderful world!" rejoined the Priest. "Wonderful world! You would
like to live in sinful enjoyment, and still, at the same time receive
an 'absolving benediction.'"

Pranken's thoughts wandered involuntarily to Nelly's house near by, but
with a powerful effort he called back his thoughts.

Both men said nothing for a short time; then the Dean asked:--

"Does this Herr Sonnenkamp know that you are acquainted with his past
life?"

"O no, and he must never know it."

Again there was a long pause.

From the cathedral near by came the stroke of noon; the bells rang out
the Angelus, the Priest rose and said a low prayer; Pranken did the
same. They seated themselves again, but neither spoke. Pranken was
becoming indignant; he was angry with himself for having come here;
however, there was no help for it now; with repressed anger he said at
last:--

"Very Reverend sir, I have confessed everything to you now; I beg of
you to advise me."

"Should I advise you to forsake Herr Sonnenkamp and your bride?"

Pranken shrank back.

The Dean proceeded, rising, and walking up and down the parlor:--"That
is the way with you. You will have advice, you children of worldly
pleasure, but only such advice as enjoins no privation upon you; you
will have such counsel only as enables you to accomplish your purpose,
whatever it may be, with a pacified conscience. You want mustard for
the digestion of heavy dinners, do you not?" said he, turning round
suddenly.

His eyes sparkled.

"Reverend sir," said Pranken, in a tremor, "bid me forsake Herr
Sonnenkamp and Manna, and I promise you that I will do it forthwith.
Only think what will become of the maiden, and shall not what has been
so earned be used for higher----"

"Stop!" said the Dean, interrupting him, and extending his hand with a
gesture of rebuke, knitting his brows and pressing his lips tight
together. "You think that you can bribe us with these millions? You are
another of those, who, with outward veneration, still believe within
themselves the clergy want nothing but money, nothing but power. No, we
want none of your money, so won by marriage or inheritance!"

The Priest was standing at the window, looking up at the sky, in which
dark clouds were gathering; he seemed to have