took
Eric by the arm, and went with him on board the boat. Only after it had
got under way, could Eric ask him if he were going to visit a patient.
The doctor nodded; he thought that he was safe in saying so, for he had
a patient with him whom he was curing constitutionally.

The physician was immediately greeted by acquaintances on board, and a
company around a punch-bowl invited him and his friend to join them; he
touched glasses, but did not drink, for he said that he never took
mixed drinks. The company was merry; a deformed passenger played upon
an accordion, and accompanied the singing.

On the deck, at a little table upon which stood a bottle of champagne
in a wine-cooler, the Wine-cavalier was seated, and opposite him was a
handsome woman, with a great deal of false hair, and also peculiarly
attractive charms of her own. They were smoking cigarettes, and
chatting very fast in French. The Wine-cavalier avoided meeting the
physician's eye, and the physician nodded to himself, as much as to
say, "Good, a little shame yet left."

When they came in sight of the village which his son-in-law had
mentioned, the doctor told Eric that he would now inform him directly
that he was going with him to Weidmann's; he was the man who understood
how to help him, and his advice was to be unconditionally followed. For
a time Eric was perplexed, but then it appeared to him again as a
strangely interesting thing, that now perhaps he was to pass through an
entirely new and unanticipated examination. He and the doctor entered
the boat which landed the passengers from the steamboat, and those on
board, with glass in hand, bade them farewell; the steamboat was soon
out of sight. Even the boatman knew the doctor, and said to him,
greeting him in a familiar way,--

"You will find Herr Weidmann yonder in the garden."

They landed at the quiet village. Eric was introduced to Weidmann. He
was a lean man, and, at first sight, seemed uninteresting; his features
had an expression of quiet self-possession and intelligence, but in his
gleaming eye lay a burning enthusiasm. Weidmann sat with several
persons at a table, on which were papers, bottles, and glasses.

He nodded in a friendly way, and then turned to the persons with whom
he had been conversing.

CHAPTER XI.

STRIVE TO MAKE MONEY.

It is not well to hear a man so much spoken of and praised, before
seeing him face t