ter, your Highness, although the former had something to do
with it. I see trouble brewing in the United States, which--I say this
only to your Highness--cannot be settled except by the establishment of
a monarchy in the New World."

"Good, you must explain the matter to me more fully some other time. I
am glad to learn--very glad. It is our duty to receive instruction from
those who understand a particular subject thoroughly. What do you think
of slavery in general?"

"That is a very extensive subject, your Highness; I have put my views
upon it in writing; I shall have the honor----"

"No, just tell me concisely the kernel, the principle of the thing."

"Your Highness, the niggers are an inferior race, that is an
established physiological fact; it is idle dreaming--though honestly
maintained by many--which leads directly to the ruin of the nigger
himself, to set him down as entitled to the same rights with other
men."

"And would you--" asked the Prince, "No, I will put another question to
you. How do you regard a man who traffics in beings of this inferior
race?"

Sonnenkamp started up immediately from his chair, but he sat down again
quickly, and said:--

"Creatures, your Highness, who cannot help themselves, and who never
will be able to, are protected as they would not otherwise be by being
considered as property; that so called generosity, without profit,
without material regard either for property or for honor, is like a
soul without a body; one can conceive it, but it does not exist, at
least in the world we see before us."

"Very fine--very good. You are a thinker. I myself believe that the
negro is better off with a master. But how is it when you see with your
own eyes the child sold away from the mother, and in that way every tie
of family forcibly torn asunder?"

"But, your Highness, that happens very seldom, or rather hardly ever,"
replied Sonnenkamp with great composure, "for it would be a material
disadvantage, and would make the slaves less inclined to work; but
should it happen, any sentimental feeling about the matter would be
only narrowing the sentimentalism from a wider sphere to a special
case. A brute that has outgrown the care of its parents knows the
parents no more, mates do not know each other after the brooding time
is past. I will not say----"

"What is it?" said the Prince, interrupting him suddenly.

The white-haired valet entered.

"Why am I interrupted?"

"His Excellenc