could not comprehend this. She could not suspect the cruel game
which her father was playing with her, with Pranken, with Eric, with
the Villa, with every thing. She knew not how to help herself, when,
just as the Priest, turning toward her, offered his hand, Eric entered.
He saw at once what had happened.

"Do you know who I am?" were the words with which Sonnenkamp turned
upon him.

Eric bowed.

"And do you know who this man here is, and this girl? And when you look
into that mirror, do you know whose image you see?"

Then, pointing to the wall where the hunting-whip hung, he cried,--

"And do you know what that is yonder? The back of many a slave"--He
broke off suddenly:

Eric looked proudly around him, then said in a calm voice,--

"To be whipped by men of a certain sort is no dishonor."

Sonnenkamp gave a hollow groan, and Eric went on--

"I beseech thee, Manna, to leave the room."

"_Thee_!--_Manna_!--" yelled Sonnenkamp, and would have sprung upon
him, had not Pranken caught his arm, saying,--

"Herr Sonnenkamp, if any one here is to demand satisfaction from Herr
Dournay, I have the first right."

"Very good!" cried Sonnenkamp, throwing himself into a chair. "Yours is
the revenge, yours the honor, yours the life, and yours every thing
else. Speak yourself; I've nothing more to say."

"Herr Dournay," began Pranken, "I brought you into this family; and I
told you in so many words what relation I held to the daughter. Up to
this time, I have had a degree of respect for you; and I regret to be
compelled to withdraw it."

Eric jumped up.

"I shall not challenge you to fight," Pranken continued. "You have put
on a coat of mail that makes you invulnerable to me. Your life rests
under Fraeulein Manna's protection, and so your life is inviolable, as
far as I am concerned. This is my last word to you so long as my tongue
can speak. Herr Sonnenkamp, I have one request only to make of you.
Give me your hand, promise to grant it to me."

"I promise you every thing but the regiment, every thing else but
that."

"Very well: I have your word that you will not harm this man."

He felt about with trembling hands, and then taking out of his pocket a
little book, he handed it to Manna. His voice was filled with emotion,
as he said,--

"Fraeulein Manna, you once gave this to me: the twig is still lying in
it, and it is bare. Take it again. As this twig, broken off from the
tree, can never grow to it again: so