"Anything about Herr Crutius?"

"No; of your very much be-pitied dwarf. It is really refreshing to find
such a charming piece of rascality. I have known for a long time how
smart he was in stealing the black wood-vetch from the hill above; but
now the bite received in training the dog is nothing but a lie. I have
already informed Roland of it, and I am glad that he can become
acquainted so early with the vileness and deceitfulness of men."

"You will not keep the dwarf any longer in your employment, I suppose?"

"Certainly I shall. I am delighted that the droll little man has so
much rascality. It is a perfect satisfaction to play with the villainy
and roguery of people, and I should like to have half a dozen such on
hand, so as to teach Roland how to deal with chaps of that stamp."

"I would rather not be able to give him that instruction," said Eric.

"It is not for you to do that; you are here for something else."

Eric left Sonnenkamp's room, greatly depressed.

A servant informed him that Roland was waiting for him at the
river-bank; he went there, and Roland invited him to take a sail with
him on the Rhine. He unfastened the pretty boat from the shore, and
rowed expertly out into the stream; it was now a dark green, and the
islands above, with their dense foliage, seemed to be growing out of a
soil of liquid emerald.

A fresh breeze rippled the surface; Roland was happy that he could
unfurl the sail, and showed himself skilful in his mastery over the
elements. Every movement was so graceful that Eric took great delight
in looking at him.

Eric was a novice on the water, and he was glad to give Roland the
satisfaction of instructing him, and of showing him how the boat is
made to turn, and to go in any direction. There was a joyous tone in
Roland's voice that Eric had never remarked before.

And while they were sailing along with a full breeze, the splashing
waves striking against the boat, Roland spoke of the candidate Knopf,
who first made him really at home upon the water. Knopf could row,
sail, steer, and make the boat describe a circle in the water, better
than the best boatman. Yes, better than the boatman's wife even, a
large, powerful woman, who now called out to him as she steered a large
boat made fast to a tow-boat, while her husband, a not less powerful
form, leaned against the mast.

Roland, steering towards the tow-boat, made fast to the boat which the
woman was managing. She chatted wit