mented Bella, "how forsaken we are in our need. You
will remain with us, will you not? You will not abandon us?"

Eric promised to remain.

It had a strange sound, a reminiscence out of the past, with its forms
of courtesy, as Bella now asked pardon for not having inquired after
Eric's mother, Frau Ceres, and Manna; and, with a peculiar jerking out
of the words, she asked,--

"How is Herr Sonnenkamp?"

A servant came, and announced that the Herr Count had waked up, and had
asked immediately, if Herr Captain Dournay had not yet come.

"Go to him," said Bella, laying her hand upon Eric's shoulder. "Go to
him, I beg you; but let it come as if from you, and not from me, that
another physician should be called in."

Eric went; and, as soon as he had gone, "Bella said hurriedly to
Pranken,--

"Otto, get rid of the Jew as politely as you can. What does he want
here?"

Pranken went to the Banker.

Bella was alone, and could not control her feeling of unrest. She had
already arranged in thought the announcement of the decease, and had
even written the words,--

"To relatives and friends I make the painful announcement, that my
beloved husband, Count von Wolfsgarten of Wolfsgarten, formerly
ambassador of his royal Highness at Rome, Knight of the first rank, has
died after a short illness, at the age of sixty-five. I beg their
silent sympathy.

"BELLA COUNTESS VON WOLFSGARTEN (_nee_, Von Pranken)."

A demon continually whispered to her this announcement: she saw it
before her eyes with a black border, even while Clodwig was still
living. Why is this? What suggests these words, and brings them so
clearly before her eyes? She could not get away from them. She took up
the sheet of paper, tore it up, and threw the pieces out of the window
into the rain.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE LAST BLUE FLOWER.

Eric, meanwhile, had entered the sick-chamber.

"Are you here at last?" cried Clodwig. His voice was faint; and the
small childlike hand which the sick man extended toward him appeared
more delicate than ever.

"Sit down," said he; "don't be so broken down: you are young and
strong, and have a good conscience. Let me take your hand. It is a
happiness to die in the full possession of my senses: I have often
desired to die a sudden death. Better as it is. Tell me, how is your
mother? Are you really betrothed to the daughter of that terrible man."

Eric c