Should Roland
continue as he is, should he preserve his present name, he will always
consider himself a citizen of the world across the ocean, not a true
son of our noble Germany, where alone a man of mind and of means can
find a sphere for his usefulness. Forgive me if I do not express myself
as warmly as I feel, and as I ought, to a friend like you. I only ask
you to add to your other benefits to Roland that of making him a son of
Germany; if not for our sakes, yet for the sake of our dear country."

Sonnenkamp well knew what a responsive strain he touched in Eric, by
those tender words from the anxious heart of a father, and by this
broad, reverent outlook, not only beyond his own death, but beyond all
thought of self. Eric was touched, and said:

"I would give my life for Roland----"

Sonnenkamp would have embraced him, but Eric begged him to listen
further.

"My life I can give up, but not my principles. I am willing to adopt
your views of the matter in a moment, if you can convince me I am
mistaken. Do you really believe that it would add to Roland's happiness
to have a title?"

"It would make his happiness; without that he would have no happiness.
I am sure you will not misunderstand me, my very dear, noble friend. I
frankly confess to you that I prize money highly; I have worked hard
for it, and should like to keep it; I should like to convert my
personal property into real estate, at least in a great measure: I want
my son freely to enjoy what I have toiled with unremitting industry to
obtain. Oh, my friend, you do not know--it is better you should not
know what blows my life has borne, because I--but no more of that; it
would agitate me too much to-day. I had a tutor--a shrewd man, but
unhappily not of such moral purity as yourself--who, I remember, often
said to me: He only is free who is not bound to the same level with
others, but is entitled to be judged by a loftier standard. A genius, a
man like yourself, my dear friend, is by nature so entitled; but all
are not geniuses. Genius is unattainable, therefore do men seek a title
of nobility that posterity may judge them by that higher standard. I
express myself clumsily, do I not?"

"No! the thought is subtilely developed."

"Ah, let us leave all subtleties. But I have after all omitted the
chief point; it is well I remember it. It was you who first directed my
thoughts and my efforts towards this aim."

"I? How so?"

"Let me remind you. On the