version of
all his noble tendencies. He could only trust that his will and his
conscience might be strong enough to withstand the danger.

Half with pride and half with regret, the Cabinetsraethin told of her
son's precocity and cunning in the pursuit of adventures, and lamented
almost in the same breath that Manna should be passing this brilliant
season in the solitude of the convent; it would have been so pleasant
for her, together with Frau Ceres, to introduce such a lovely girl into
society.

Sonnenkamp replied that next winter would be time enough for that.

CHAPTER II.

THE FIRST NIGHT IN THE CAPITAL.

Eric soon withdrew; he went to his chamber, but found no rest. Here he
was, in the city where he had been born and brought up, living in a
strange hotel, and in the service of a stranger. He quickly fought down
these reflections and the weakness they engendered, and wrote a letter
to his mother announcing their arrival, and begging her to let no
persuasions induce her to come to the capital. He took the letter to
the post himself, and spent some time in wandering through the quiet,
deserted streets of the little capital. He knew every house in them.
Here and there lived some companion of his youth, some family friends;
what relations he should hold to them now he could not tell.

He passed the great building where the antique relics were kept, and
for a moment allowed himself to fancy what his position would have
been, if he had received the post of director here.

He walked restlessly to and fro, and finally entered a beer-house, took
his place in a corner, and listened to the talk of the men, who, with
long pipes in their mouths, were laughing at each other's poor jokes,
and discussing matters of all kinds.

His attention was roused by the mention of Sonnenkamp's name; a stout,
red-faced man was saying,--

"I must begin now to take my very best meat to the Victoria, for Herr
Sonnenkamp knows what is good."

A printer whom Eric recognized said, "Our editor, Professor Crutius,
declares that he knows Herr Sonnenkamp, but he isn't willing to tell us
anything about him."

Eric's interest was still further excited. The men went on to tell of
the immense sum daily paid to the landlord of the Victoria, then of
Sonnenkamp's reported purchase of the Rabenecke palace, and of his
admission to the ranks of the nobility as being a thing as good as
settled.