he epoch--or do they call it the century, the age--of humanity?' By
good right, all the nobles of the land should leave their cards for
you, and congratulate you. How many of these puppets would be in
possession of nobility, if they had to win it by heroism like yours?
Look at me; were I young, had you come in my youth, I would have gone
out with you into the wide world; you have in you a Napoleonic vein.
Give me your hand!"

She reached out both her hands and pressed his passionately.

"You do not recollect, but I have kept it in mind," said she in a
haughty tone, "when you and Prince Valerian dined with us, you said:
'There is a priestcraft of Humanity.' You were right. Before the flimsy
humanity of Jean Jacques Rousseau, they all bow down in fear, strong
free men; they are dreaming of a paradise of equality, where black and
white, noble and mean, the genius and the blockhead, shall be brewed
into a mass together; they have a new faith in a book, the 'Contrat
Social' is their Bible. I am not afraid of Jean Jacques Rousseau----"

With a joyful look, Sonnenkamp interrupted her:--

"A cause is not lost, no, it is victorious, if highminded women are
enthusiastic over it."

"Thanks--thanks," continued Bella.

She seized his hand and stroked his thumb with her delicate fingers.

"So one of the pets of the school-masters has sunk his teeth in here?
Be proud of it; it is a mark of honor, more so than if it had been won
in battle. Now let nothing in the world subdue you; enjoy yourself; you
have nothing more to conceal; now stand your ground and show that you
are the only one that is not afraid of the school-masters. The
dauntless man acknowledges and conforms to the inevitable."

Bella had risen; her eye was blazing, her cheeks were glowing, and her
countenance wore a look of mysterious and terrible fascination.

So must Medusa have appeared, so must she have breathed, so must she
have trembled.

And in the midst of this deep emotion, Bella felt that it was a fine
scene: here are the sublime tones of voice at her command, here is
majesty, here is passion. She suddenly stood still like a living
picture, as soon as she became conscious of this conception, and her
eye sought for a mirror in which to behold herself.

She shook her head, and turned back as if she were coming upon the
stage out of one of the side scenes.

"Will you tell me how you have become so great and daring, so free--the
only free man?"

Sonnen