commend him to their especial
consideration. The Banker praised him for having mastered, in so short
a time, the essentials of the business; for he could now compute the
price of any public funds by means of the exchange lists, and had a
good insight into book-keeping.

So passed several weeks, until the elder Weidmann arrived, and invited
his son, the cashier Fassbender, and Roland to visit him.

Weidmann first saw his son and Fassbender alone, and learned from
them that the younger tradesmen had discussed the subject of the
slave-trade, and had even held a meeting, and formally debated the
question, but disagreed in their final vote. They stood twelve against
twelve; it having been strongly urged that a man might lawfully carry
on this traffic, provided he were not personally engaged in it;
especially since others would be sure to carry on the lucrative
business if he were held back by scruples.

Weidmann looked grave.

Roland came. He was very animated, and re-assured by Weidmann's
encouraging glance, he begged to be allowed to return to Mattenheim.

The Banker assented readily.

With expressions of genuine affection, they bade Roland good-by. First
of all, he revisited Villa Eden with Herr Weidmann. He had left it a
boy; he returned a mature man.

In a few days, Roland's effects were all packed, ready for a removal to
Mattenheim.

Eric accompanied him thither, and Roland turned crimson, when,
on entering his room--it was the same that Lilian had formerly
occupied--Knopf handed him a note from the latter. She had expressly
requested that it might not be given to Roland until he returned
permanently to Mattenheim.

The next day, Eric went back to Villa Eden, and announced to Manna and
his mother his own intention of removing to Mattenheim.

A strange conflict ensued in Manna's breast; but, as she made no
allusion to it, Eric thought it right to respect her reserve.

The Major, to whom Eric confided his plan, complained that he, too, had
got to build himself a new nest in his old age; for his brother, the
Grand-master, whose wife had died, had become engaged, and was to be
married again in the spring. Now, Fraeulein Milch had no mind to be
tolerated, and patronized by a young wife; and when his Masonic
brother, the Grand-master, had informed them that he should wish to
reserve one of the rooms which the Major had formerly occupied, for a
guest-chamber, Fraeulein Milch had behaved in a most independent man