language sounds fabulous," said he.

"Here, father, is my diary. In it you will find a detailed account of
what I have briefly stated."

Gerlach took the book and shoved it into the breast-pocket of his coat.
In an instant, however, his imagination conjured up to him a picture of
the Count of Hatzfurth's splendid estate, and he went on coldly and
deliberately: "Hear me, Seraphin! Your marriage with Louise is a
favorite project upon which I have based not a few expectations. The
observations you have made shall not induce me to renounce this project
unconditionally, for you may have been mistaken. I shall take notes
myself and test this matter. If your view is confirmed, our project
will have been an air castle. You shall be left entirely unmolested in
your convictions."

Seraphin embraced his father.

"Let us have no scene; hear me out. Should it turn out, on the other
hand, that your judgment is erroneous, should Louise not belong to yon
crazy progressionist mob who aim to dethrone God and subvert the order
of society, should her hatred against religion be merely a silly
conforming to the fashionable impiety of the age, which good influences
may correct--then I shall insist upon your marrying her. Meanwhile I
want you to maintain a strict neutrality--not a step backward nor a
step in advance. Now to tea, and let your countenance betray nothing of
what has passed." He drew his son to his bosom and imprinted a kiss on
his forehead.

The millionaires were seated around the tea-table. Mr. Conrad playfully
commended Louise's talent for cooking. Apparently without design he
turned the conversation upon the elections, and, to Seraphin's utter
astonishment, eulogized the beneficent power of liberal doctrines.

"Our age," said he, "can no longer bear the hampering notions of the
past. In the material world, steam and machinery have brought about
changes which call for corresponding changes in the world of intellect.
Great revolutions have already commenced. In France, Renan has written
a _Life of Christ_, and in our own country Protestant convocations are
proclaiming an historical Christ who was not God, but only an
extraordinary man. You hardly need to be assured that I too take a deep
interest in the intellectual struggles of my countrymen, but an excess
of business does not permit me to watch them closely. I am obliged to
content myself with such reports as the newspapers furnish. I should
like to read Renan's work, w