nkamp's ball.

The next evening, the paper edited by Professor Crutius contained a
witty article upon the two events, sarcastically blending the news of
the death with the Sonnenkamp ball. The splendor of the occasion was
thus partially dimmed, and Sonnenkamp discussed with Pranken the
possibility of gaining over this poor devil of an editor also with a
handful of gold.

Pranken opposed the plan, on the ground that no communication of any
kind should be held with these communists, as he called all those who
were not in sympathy with the government; and this man, who scorned no
means that could further the plan of being admitted to the nobility,
was amazed that Sonnenkamp should not be ashamed of employing bribery
here.

Sonnenkamp appeared convinced, but appealed to Eric, who before had
been the medium of conveying relief to the man, and desired him to put
himself again in communication with him, and let him know that
Sonnenkamp was ready to assist him if he were in need.

Eric emphatically excused himself.

The singer was not summoned to Court, it being contrary to etiquette
that she should sing there after appearing in the house of a private
citizen. She left the capital, and Sonnenkamp, ball, and music were
soon forgotten.

Sonnenkamp was even obliged to submit to the humiliation of not being
invited himself to Court. He was openly given to understand that the
Sovereign had been much displeased with his having, at the French play,
so awkwardly introduced a matter which needed to be handled with the
greatest delicacy. Pranken told him this in a tone of malicious
pleasure mixed with regret; Sonnenkamp should always keep in mind that
he was to be indebted to him for his patent of nobility.

The evening of the court ball, which was the one subject of
conversation throughout the capital, and which was attended by two
noble families from the Hotel Victoria who had come from the country
for the purpose, was a most trying time to Sonnenkamp; yet he had to
hide his rage and exert himself to comfort Frau Ceres, who kept
insisting on leaving the capital at once, since this was the one thing
she had been aiming at, and now it was all over.

Even the Cabinetsraethin absented herself this evening, being obliged,
to her great regret, as she said, to appear at Court. Thus the family
sat by themselves; and this evening, for the first time, Eric managed
to acquire again a firmer hold upon Roland's mind, for Roland, too, was