r he still held to the old belief, came the answer "as one wishes
to think." Only one thing was clear, he was not happy. The bloom of
health had disappeared from his face, which had become sharp and
haggard, the eyes either looked covertly to one side, or were fixed
with a piercing mistrusting expression full on the face of his brother.
Out of humour the two brothers who after so long a separation had so
little to say, finally followed each other in silence. Wherever the
blue Klytia raised its head above the grass, the Magister plucked it.
Felix thus knew, that the nickname given to Erast's daughter, was
already known to her protector, but he found out also how it stood with
his heart.

"You have a liking for the blue Klytia," said he kindly.

"The learned call it Chicory, it is used as an antidote to fever."

"Even against the fever of love?"

"What mean you?"

"Well, I heard, it hung on the sight of the Sun, as certain pupils hang
on the lips of their teacher."

The clerical gentleman angrily threw the flowers among the vines
beneath, as if they had turned into nettles. "Do not make such jokes,
thou knowest I do not like to be turned into ridicule."

An unpleasant pause succeeded this excited speech, and to give the
conversation another turn, Felix asked whether what Werner the Baptist
had told him concerning the former use of the Haarlass had any
foundation. "Foolery," replied Paolo. "Every child knows that the hair
of the novices is cut off at the altar of the convent-church, and not
at the boundaries of the convent property. Haarlass means 'hari lot'
that is 'the property of the Lord of the Manor;' anything else is a
poor joke."

Not to be put down Felix related what else the Baptist had told him. "A
way will be found to get at this bold heretic," was the only answer of
the Magister.

"When shall we meet again?" he then asked coldly as they reached the
road.

"Must you go back already?"

"I have still much to do; if you find time, go of an evening to the
Hirsch Inn. At the round table in the back room one meets the clergy of
the neighbourhood. I am accustomed to go there also, so as to make the
acquaintance of the worthy clerics of this land. We can there talk
further over matters." Saying this he stretched out his small thin
hand. His brother looked him earnestly in the face. But the Magister
avoided the loving glance and directed his steps back towards Neuburg.
"Can his heart really be dried up," t