how to draw Pranken out, and the
latter narrated many charges, of course wholly unjust, an appearance of
treason among others, which had been brought against Eric. He prayed
him, however, to spare the poor, young man to whom the Prince himself
had been merciful, and he thanked the Justice for neutralizing the
effects of the impulse, by which he himself had been violently carried
away. The Justice did not know exactly what course he ought to take,
and he was terrified when they came in sight of the villa.

CHAPTER VII.

A SUBSTITUTE.

Roland had gone to sleep with anger in his heart, on the evening of the
parting, and he awoke in sorrow. It seemed impossible that Eric could
have left him, and so strong was his faith in the bond between them,
that he wished to go to Eric's room to ask forgiveness for having
dreamed such evil things of him. But it was all true. He went to the
room; it was empty, with only the doctor's diploma lying upon the
table, a sign that it had not been all a dream.

Roland was not to remain long alone; he was summoned to his father.

His father introduced him to a man of gentlemanly bearing, who spoke
only in French and somewhat broken German. This agreeable-looking young
man, the Chevalier de Canne by name, was from French Switzerland, and
came warmly recommended by a banker in the capital, who did not himself
know the fountain-head of the stream which had brought the man to him,
for it was all Fraeulein Perini's work.

Fraeulein Perini was never seen to send her letters by post, for they
went through the hands of the priest, but her relations with the French
clergy were such, that, by safe mediation, a lay-pupil who could be
depended on was called to the position in Sonnenkamp's household.
Sonnenkamp's prejudices against such a connection were well known, and
it was carefully concealed.

By his modest and dignified bearing the Chevalier knew how to win the
favor of the whole household, not excepting Herr Sonnenkamp. In
contrast with Eric, he had about him something impersonal, so to speak;
never obtruding any peculiar expression of his own special views,
skilfully agreeing with everything, and succeeding, without flattery,
in giving back each person's own words in such a way that they seemed
to the speaker remarkably significant and excellent. He was able so to
illustrate and interpret even the few words which Frau Ceres utte