f his confidential relations with Sonnenkamp, was glad that
the Cooper had hit the right point.

The second coachman, the Englishman, who also wanted to give notice of
leaving, now said that he should not do it; but of course he must
always be ready for a boxing-match.

The Squirrel expressed his fear that some one would set fire to the
place, for the whole neighborhood was possessed by the devil. Lootz was
not there, and nobody knew where the master had sent him. Old Ursel
mourned over the innocent children, at the same time eating away with a
fearful appetite, and uttering loudest lamentations with her mouth
full.

The stuttering gardener made the proposal that they should remain, but
should make a joint demand for higher wages. All agreed to do this,
except Joseph and the Cooper, but were puzzled how it could be brought
about.

The subterraneans were unanimous in their eulogies of Pranken. He was a
nobleman whose like could not be found, who did not desert the master
for a single moment. He had ridden out with him in the broad daylight,
and did not concern himself as to what his noble relatives might say of
him.

Here, underground, they were also glad to know that men were ungrateful
and base. It was even known here that Sonnenkamp had made a present of
the Villa to the Cabinetsrath, for what the latter had given for it was
only a trifling sum; and now the gardener of the Cabinetsrath had
reported that the country-house and the vineyard had just been sold to
the American Consul, as a sort of gibe at Sonnenkamp; for the family of
the Cabinetsrath wished to have no more intercourse with Villa Eden.

In just the same way, although by men of a different position in
society, were Sonnenkamp's circumstances discussed in the military
club-house of the capital, as well as in the beer-houses. For some
time, Adams, the negro servant of the Prince, had everywhere been the
topic of conversation. There were various wonderful stories how five
men were hardly able to restrain the raving negro; that he had tried to
choke Sonnenkamp,--only with the greatest difficulty had they succeeded
in getting him out of the capital, and removing him to a hunting-seat.
Then the conversation would turn upon Sonnenkamp. Everybody asked what
he would do now; no one could understand how it was that Pranken stood
by him, and how the family permitted such a thing. In the military
club-house there was also an Ursel, but here she took the form of