to read Thomas a
Kempis, to see if there was not some direction given for such a case;
he found none.

CHAPTER VI.

SKILFUL STRATEGY.

On the third day after his return, Pranken set out for the villa. He
stopped at the Justice's, for he wanted to know what he had done. But
the Justice said, modestly as well as wisely, that he did not think it
fitting to take any step before speaking with Herr von Pranken, who had
recommended his friend to the house; he was ready, however, to drive
with Herr von Pranken to Villa Eden.

Pranken bowed his thanks. He must then himself take a part in the
affair. He did not decline the offer of the Justice, perhaps the
pedantic little man might serve as a reconnoitering party, to find out
where, and in what condition, the enemy was.

In his new frame of mind, Pranken was not inclined to enter into any
intrigue, and he said to himself that this was nothing of that sort;
but strategy was always permissible, even required. One must lay hold
of the enemy wherever and howsoever he can. Pranken drew himself up
erect, and laid down the precise method of proceeding: he would pretend
to apologise for Eric, in order to help the Justice accomplish his
object more directly. He was, again, the spirited, confident, captain
of the horse-guards leaping the barriers.

The Justice requested that he would see the ladies, while he got ready
for the drive. He had not yet shaved. The good Justice lived all the
year round in violation of the law; every day his mustaches were liable
to fell a sacrifice to the stringent regulation of the Prince, that the
officers of the civil service should not wear a moustache. He gave as
an excuse for wearing it his suffering from tooth-ache, but the real
reason was, that he wanted to hide the loss of his teeth.

Pranken went up stairs. The Justice's wife welcomed him, and could not
find words strong enough to describe her rapturous admiration of Bella,
and the regret of the whole company that Herr von Pranken had not come
in for a moment.

"Might one be allowed to ask where you have been?" enquired the wife of
the Justice.

"I have been to see a dear friend on the lower Rhine."

"Might one ask the name of the friend?"

"Herr von Kempen."

She congratulated Pranken on having such intimate friends; if they
could be always worthy of his friendship. The conversation might
naturally, at this point, have br