ndreds of thousands. But no, it must not be done.

"Fie!" said he to himself, "how could you ever have such a thought as
that?"

He rode on, and came to the country-house of Herr von Endlich. There
was a young widow here: should he now go in? He knew that his proposal
would not be rejected here. No, not yet. But he reined in and
dismounted. He asked after the gracious lady, and was told that she was
travelling in Italy with her brother.

Sneering contemptuously at himself, he again mounted his horse.

He would tell Bella and Clodwig,--no, not even that. He had not taken
them into his counsel: in opposition to the rest of the world, he had
connected himself with Sonnenkamp, and was he now to be pitied by
Clodwig, and stuffed with wise saws?

He turned his horse, and, riding up along the river, he came to Villa
Eden again, and the horse wanted to turn in at the gate; but with whip
and spur he urged him on.

He rode to the Priest's, and sent for Fraeulein Perini, who came.

First he asked her if she wished to remain any longer in the family.

Fraeulein Perini, looking him full in the face, declared that she hoped
she had not mistaken him in supposing that he would not abandon every
thing to the Huguenots. She asserted that she was the daughter of a man
who had fallen in a duel caused by a less provocation.

The Priest here said,--

"My noble young friend! Not that, no, not that: what does it signify,
this petty duel in a corner of the wood, and you killing one man even,
according to the code of honor? You sons of the nobility must wage,
under the banner of the Pope, the great contest with the revolution.
Also for your own sake. On that field will be fought the great duel
between faith and irreligion, between eternal law and frivolous
self-deification, and the victory is yours."

Pranken smiled to himself; but he did not express how odd it seemed to
him, when the Priest went on to state, that, before it was known how
Sonnenkamp's money had been acquired, they might have applied a part of
it to holy ends; but now it could not be done.

Pranken looked at the Priest, and smiled. Did not the Priest know the
origin of the money before this?

He had it on his lips to say, "It is very amiable and prudent in you
now, when nothing can be got, to act as if you had declined it." But it
was not necessary; and why should he imbitter against him the only
parties who remained his friends? Yes, he was here still an honored