ed in firmness. He went directly to his mother,
who had not once paused in her cry of, "Henry, Henry, come back! Henry,
I will give you my ornaments: come back!"

She appeared not to have noticed Roland's absence, and showed no
surprise now at seeing him. She only said,--

"Your father will soon come back: he is only gone for a vessel, a great
vessel; he sits at the helm, he guides"--

For the first time in his life, Roland was friendly and affectionate to
Fraeulein Perini, and thanked her warmly for her fidelity to his mother.

Fraeulein Perini replied, that she was sure the young master would treat
her kindly, and not forget her services. Roland hardly understood her
meaning.

He went to Manna, he went to the Professorin, and had for every one a
word of encouragement.

The notary came, and, on being asked if he had received any further
news, answered hesitatingly, and fell back upon his power of attorney.

Roland, Manna, Eric, and Weidmann were summoned into the great hall;
and, as they entered the room which his father had left, Roland for the
first time shed tears, and threw himself on his sister's neck. But he
quickly recovered his composure.

The lawyer told them that he knew the secret of opening the great
fire-proof safe that was built into the wall on one side of the room.
The keys lay in the writing-desk, and the mysterious word which the
letters must be made to spell before the keys would turn the locks, was
Manna.

"My name!" cried Manna, more touched than she could tell at her
father's thus opening the rich treasures of his wealth with her name.
To the notary's amazement, she grasped Eric's hand.

A strange chill spread through the room as the great safe was opened.

On the top lay a little box labelled, "My last will and testament."
They opened it. A sealed paper lay in it on which was written, "To be
opened immediately after my death." These words, however, had been
erased, and beneath them was written, "To be opened six months after my
disappearance."

Every thing was in perfect order. In different compartments lay the
notes of hand, state bonds of all the countries in Europe, and
more still of America, deeds of mining companies and of various
banking-houses; there were papers of every sort and color: all the
shades of the rainbow were represented.

Roland and Manna hardly heard the great sums that were named. They
fixed their eyes with the curiosity of children upon separate valuable
do