sh
the sheets with my positive assurance that they were written by a noble
recluse many years before the events foretold.

[Weidmann to Eric.]

We are in the midst of all sorts of work. You wanderers took much of
our peace away with you, but now all is in its habitual order again.

Thank you, dear Dournay, for your letter. My nephew always sends me the
newspapers regularly. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by
thoughts of Europe, and by too great a variety of interests; you are
stationed at a post where you must keep only the next duty before your
eyes. Forgive me for permitting myself to admonish you thus. It was
high time that this disgrace should be wiped out from the consciousness
of our age, for it had begun to appear that long habit was weakening
the keen and bitter sense of its sin and shame.

I am finding surprising confirmation of this opinion. Herr Sonnenkamp
corrupted our district more than he knew; people now speak well of him.
"Ah, only a slave-trader!" "Nothing worse!" may be heard on all sides.

There is always something commanding in heroism; the bold scoundrel is
more attractive than the unobtrusively virtuous man. Not only the
frivolous, but quite sober-minded men think that the Prince was
unnecessarily scrupulous in refusing to ennoble Herr Sonnenkamp.

A plant has become common in Europe which is called the water-pest: you
may have read of it; it came from Canada, probably attached to some
vessel, and has almost choked the Thames with its roots and entangled
stems; it has crept far into the continent, and has now reached us, but
we will conquer it. Such a water-pest spreads too in spiritual matters.

[Doctor Richard to Eric.]

All the others have no doubt written most edifying and sentimental
letters; I have something better for you. First, let me tell you to
rejoice that you have something to do, and have done with speculating.

And now for a fine story:--

Otto von Pranken--for whom I always had a sympathy, like all the rest
of the profane world; he is no paragon of virtue, but there's a good
deal in him--has beaten the black-coats in shrewdness; he got himself
recommended to Rome by them and there he has played a smart trick. He
entered the Papal army with the rank of Major, but got into some
difficulty, on purpose, as I believe. He wrote a letter full of
dissatisfaction over the organization of the army, and this gave him an
exc