Schwefel's. From dawn till late
you are compelled to toil for the curmudgeon, Sundays not excepted.
Your church is the factory, your religion working in straw, and your
God is your sovereign master Schwefel. You are ruining your health amid
the stench of brimstone, and not so much as the liberty of voting as
you think fit is allowed you. It's just as I tell you--you factorymen
are slaves. How strangely things go on in the world! In America slavery
has been abolished; but lo! here in Europe it is blooming as freshly as
trees in the month of May. But mark my word, friends, the fruit is
deadly; and when once it will have ripened, the great God of heaven
will shake it from the trees, and the generation that planted the trees
will have to eat the bitter fruit."

Leicht shunned the society of the ultramontanes and stole away.
Presently Spitzkopf appeared with the ticket.

"Your ticket is filled out. Come and sign your name to it." Schwefel
was again standing near the entrance, and he again beckoned the laborer
to approach. "I am pacified. You may now continue working for me."

Carl and Seraphin returned to the Palais Greifmann. Louise received
them with numerous questions. The banker related what had passed;
Gerlach strode restlessly through the apartment.

"The most curious spectacle must have been yourself," said the young
lady. "Just fancy you on the rostrum at the 'Key of Heaven'! And very
likely the ungrateful ultramontanes would not so much as applaud."

"Beg pardon, they did, miss!" assured Seraphin. "They applauded and
cried bravo."

"Really? Then I am proud of a brother whose maiden speech produced such
marvellous effects. May be we shall read of it in the daily paper.
Everybody will be surprised to hear of the banker Greifmann making a
speech at the 'Key of Heaven.'" Carl perceived the irony and stroked
his forehead.

"But what can you be pondering over, Mr. Seraphin?" cried she to him.
"Since returning from the turmoil of the election, you seem unable to
keep quiet." He seated himself at her side, and was soon under the
spell of her magical attractions.

"My head is dizzy and my brain confused," said he. "On every hand I see
nothing but revolt against moral obligation, sacrilegious disregard of
the most sacred rights of man. The hubbub still resounds in my ears,
and my imagination still sees those fat men at the table with their
slaveholder look--the white slaves doing their masters' bidding--the
complete