protestations of innocence. On the way from his house to the villa he
kept raising his chains, as if to show them appealingly to the fields,
the vineyards, and the heavens.

A list was made out of the stolen articles as far as they could be
described, and Roland was summoned to sign his name for the first time
to an official document.

"There is no calculating the effect such a thing must produce on the
boy," said Eric to the Major, who was standing by.

"It will do him no harm," replied the Major; "his heart is sound, and
Fraeulein Milch says, 'A young heart and a young stomach are quick
digesters.'"

Fraeulein Milch was mistaken this time, for at sight of Clans brought in
in chains, Roland uttered a cry of distress.

A new scent was presently started. The groom, who had been in Pranken's
pay as a spy, and afterwards dismissed by Sonnenkamp, had, within the
last few days, been seen and recognized in the neighborhood, though he
had taken great pains to disguise himself. Telegrams were immediately
despatched in all directions for the arrest of the supposed thief, and
also to Sonnenkamp.

The priest came, lamented what had happened, using a noble charity in
speaking of the disaster, and begged Eric not to lay it too much to
heart, because, devoted as he had been to learning and science, he
could naturally have no proper knowledge of the wickedness of his
fellow-men, and had naturally allowed himself to be taken unawares by
it.

Eric was more humbled in spirit than the priest thought reasonable. He
remembered having once said, that the man who consecrates himself to an
idea must renounce all else; and now he was humiliated by standing in
the presence of one who, in his way, acted up to this sentiment, while
he himself had allowed the excitement of mental dissipation to drag him
down from his high standard.

The priest repeated, that is all our plans we should take into account
the wickedness of mankind; and Eric, who hardly knew what answer to
make, assured him that he was well aware of the necessity, having
voluntarily passed some time in a House of Correction, for the sake of
restoring guilty men to their better selves. Neither Eric nor the
priest, who praised him, noticed the effect which this confession
produced upon Roland. He was, then, in the hands of a man who had tried
to counsel criminals, who had lived in a House of Correction! A fear
and repugnance took possession of the boy's soul. Eric's motive was