eyes of all. The fact of his being financier,
political economist, agriculturist, merchant and ship-owner, and
thoroughly acquainted with everything connected with those pursuits, he
allowed to be taken for granted; but besides these, he was able to
converse with equal intelligence upon the exact sciences and all the
statesmen of Europe. He was a careful observer, and knew how to turn
his observation to good account.

Sonnenkamp, who was often one in a group of persons to whom Herr von
Endlich would be talking, was made to feel, perhaps for the first time
in his life, quite like a school-boy, in fact, extremely insignificant.
He was standing with some others listening to Herr von Endlich's
account of the casting of steel, when the Prince approached, and
observing that the conversation ceased abruptly upon his arrival,
said:--

"Pray, let me not interrupt you," and listened with apparent
gratification while Herr von Endlich explained the whole process, as if
he had spent his whole life as a worker in a machine shop.

Upon Sonnenkamp being presented, the Prince inquired if he had
practised grape culture in America.

Sonnenkamp replied in the negative.

With a sudden change of subject, the Prince then asked again whether he
knew Theodore Parker, whose preaching he had heard with pleasure.

Here again Sonnenkamp was unfortunately obliged to say no, feeling
himself wretchedly poor and ignorant.

The Prince perceived the stranger's embarrassment, and desiring to
introduce a subject on which he could not fail to be at home, asked
whether he believed in the possibility of a peaceable settlement of the
slavery question.

The bystanders listened with interest, while Sonnenkamp proceeded to
state that the horrors generally associated with the idea of slavery
had no actual existence, and that the abolitionists might be very well
intentioned, but certainly they did not set to work in the right way.

"You must tell me more about this matter of slavery sometime; you must
come to see me."

"Your Highness has but to command," replied Sonnenkamp, most happy that
the conversation should end here.

Eric stood through the greater part of the evening near Weidmann, but
desirous as he was of giving his undivided attention to the excellent
man, he found it impossible to keep his eyes from wandering towards
Bella. Bella was in the highest spirits. There was something Juno-like
about her appearance. There was a dignified ease and a