d'esclaves_,--Oh, I wanted to ask you
something--what was it--yes, I know now. Just tell me what they're
going to do when the negroes get to be good people just like everybody
else, what they're going to do then with the Devil?"

"What has the Devil to do with it?"

"Why, how are they going to paint the Devil, if he's not to be black
any longer?"

Aunt Claudine had to indulge in a most hearty laugh, and she was very
much rejoiced to be reminded that, in the midst of this monotonously
sombre life, there was some liveliness still left in the world.

She was ready to go with Lina to the Castle, but just as they were
leaving the house, Bella came. She begged that Aunt Claudine and Lina
would not put off their excursion on her account, and shut herself up
in the library, while the Aunt and Lina proceeded to the castle. They
remained there until the afternoon, and often looked down to the Villa
where "the men were all engaged in such a queer business," as Lina
expressed herself.

Bella did not stay long in the library, but quickly returned to the
villa, and noiselessly went up the steps overgrown with mistaria.

Sonnenkamp went to his wife, thinking that he must inform her of what
was now going on. She tauntingly reminded him of his promise to return
to America; she did not want the decision to be in the hands of
strangers.

Sonnenkamp's practice was to let Frau Ceres speak just as long and as
much as she pleased; for it was a matter of perfect indifference to him
what she said.

When he had got through with this, he returned to his room, and sent
word to those who arrived, that he would extend a welcome to them when
he appeared before the tribunal.

Weidmann came first with the Prince Valerian and Knopf, then Clodwig
with the Banker, and the Doctor with the Justice. Professor Einsiedel
stopped a while at the dog-house, and talked very earnestly with the
field-guard, and was highly delighted at the sound views of the man in
dog-training. Once he tapped upon his forehead with the fore and middle
fingers, wishing to impress upon his memory one observation of Claus,
which explained to him a passage in the eighth book of Pliny, treating
of land-animals.

The Major came in full uniform, wearing all his decorations; and when
he saw that Clodwig had come in plain citizen's clothes, without a
single decoration, he said to himself in vexation,--

"She was right here, too; but I thought as it was a tribunal of
honor--wel