"Now we have had enough of this," said Roland at last. "We must be
strong: we have great duties before us."

Almost with an angry hand, he pushed in the heavy drawer; and as they
rose to their feet, while the boy still had hold of the door of the
great safe to shut it, the Major, Knopf, and the negro Adams, entered.

For a moment, Roland and Manna stood motionless: then Roland ran up to
the black man, embraced him, and exclaimed with a loud cry,--

"Let this make atonement to your whole race, to all your brothers!
Come, Manna; give him your hand, embrace him: we owe it to him."

Manna approached, but with difficulty held out her hand to him; she
trembled as she did it.

Adams held her hand long and firmly; and a shiver, a shudder, which
made her blood stand still, shot through her whole frame.

With a great effort she controlled herself, and said in English, she
hardly knew why,--

"We welcome you as a brother."

"Yes," cried Roland, "you shall counsel us, you shall help us, we will
do every thing through you."

Manna whispered to Roland that they would give Adams at once a handsome
sum of money; but Roland explained, that, although they must
undoubtedly provide generously for Adams, it would be better first to
find out if he understood the proper use of money.

Manna looked at her brother in wonder.

The notary now came from the adjoining room. Eric and Weidmann
returned, and signed a receipt for the whole amount.

Eric now learned for the first time that Roland had insisted on Adams
being brought. Knopf said in an aside to Eric, that he might be proud
of the boy: there was great strength of character in him. He had
repeatedly said that he must show he felt no hatred towards the
innocent cause of this great calamity, and that, instead of persecuting
the negro, he was bound to show him kindness.

Weidmann urged Adams's immediate departure from the Villa, fearing the
effect that a chance meeting with him might have upon Frau Ceres,
associated as his appearance would be with recollections of her home.
He advised the man's going with him to Mattenheim: but Roland bogged
that Adams might be allowed to remain till he himself went back to
Mattenheim; and the Major joyfully agreed to take him home with him.

Eric was incensed that Knopf should have brought Adams at all; but
Knopf told how he had met the negro on the way to the Villa, and, with
an air of triumph, went on to tell what a model of knavery the fel