by the storm while
visiting a patient in a neighboring village. He drove off with the
rest, having scarcely had time to say good-evening to the Count Clodwig
and Bella.

Bella drew a long breath when the reception was all over. There was
much conversation in the different carriages, but in one there was
weeping, for Lina received a sharp scolding for her behavior, in acting
as if she were nothing but a stupid, simple country girl. Instead of
being sprightly and making the most of herself, she behaved as if she
had come, only an hour before, from keeping geese. Lina had for a long
time been accustomed to these violent reproofs, but she seemed today to
take them more feelingly to heart. She had been so happy, that now the
severe lecture came doubly hard. She silently wept.

The Justice, who was no justice of the peace in his own family, took no
part in this feminine outbreak. Not until he was ready to take a fresh
cigar did he say, "This loquacious Dournay seems to me a dangerous
man."

"I think him very agreeable."

"Woman's logic! as if the amiability, instead of excluding, did not
rather include, the dangerous element. Don't you see through this very
transparent intrigue?"

"No."

"Then put together these facts: we come across him at the convent,
where the daughter of this exceedingly wealthy Herr Sonnenkamp is
living, and he acts as if he knew no one, and had no special end in
view. Now he wants to be the tutor of young Sonnenkamp. Ha! what a
flash!"

A bright flash of lightning illumined not only the landscape, but the
relation in which several people stood to each other. Especially the
Eden villa was as clearly defined in every part as if it were only a
few paces off.

"Just see," continued the Justice, "how this great pile of buildings
and the park are lighted up, and no one knows what is brewing up
here. Amazing world! Baron Pranken introduces this Dournay to his
sister-in-law and his father-in-law as a friend, and yet these two men
are sworn enemies."

The wife of the Justice was vexed with her husband. He was so animated,
and made such keen observations, alone with her and at home, while in
society he had hardly a word to say, and let others bear away all the
honors.

"Who is the father-in-law you speak of?" she asked, for the sake of
saying something.

"Why, Herr Sonnenkamp, of course; at least, he is to be. That
inexhaustible wealth of his is guano for the Baron Pranken; he needs
it, and why