CHAPTER II.
TWELVE MEN.
Pranken, who remained true to Sonnenkamp, was often full of solicitude.At times he looked very strangely at his friends, but did not giveutterance to his projects. Sonnenkamp knew that something was going on.He knew through Lootz that Pranken had several times received letterswith large seals, one bearing the seal of the Court-Marshal's office,another that of the Ministry of State. He would have liked to ask himwhether negotiations were pending, with a view to the attainment of thelonged-for dignity. He looked at him inquiringly; but Pranken remainedreticent. Sonnenkamp even pressed him not to disdain his assistance,saying that he was wise in some things, even though he had actedimprudently.
Pranken said that there were things which he must decide for himself,and which he hoped to put through successfully. He hinted that theworld, even the little world of the city, was made up of differentfactions.
As he condescended to say no more, Sonnenkamp resolved to have recourseto an old method, and one which could here be very easily employed. Hewould obtain by theft, through the agency of Lootz, the letters whichPranken had received. He rejected this course, however. Yet once, whenPranken had ridden in haste to the railway station, just after he hadreceived another large letter, he went toward his room. He would haveno go-between. He could surely get possession of the letters, andPranken was no doubt careless enough to render unnecessary breakingopen any locks or picking them.
In a sudden attack of loyalty, however, he turned away from thethreshold.
Pranken returned, bringing the news that he was in danger; butearnestly begged to be excused from giving any particulars.
Sonnenkamp embraced the excited young man, and made him promise not toengage in any duel without his knowledge.
Reluctantly Pranken gave him his hand upon this, and departed.
While Eric was yet at his mother's, Sonnenkamp came thither with aletter in his hand. He first expressed his joy at seeing theProfessorin so full of new life; then, saying that he had a letter fromher friend, he handed her one written by Professor Einsiedel, and addedwith a smile:
"These learned gentlemen have very good memories. I had forgottenhaving invited the man."
The Professorin read Einsiedel's letter, in which he said that heshould not be lecturing next winter, and was ready to acceptSonnenkamp's invitation, and to take up his abode for some time atVilla Eden.
As the Professorin smilingly gave back the letter, a gleam of furtivetriumph shot from Sonnenkamp's eyes. Then this new specimen ofhumanity, this puritanic infidel, has her own private affinity. Perhapsshe felt the malicious glance; for she said, in a very decidedmanner,--
"I should be very glad to have the noble man come to us. His visitwould be a great deal to me, and, perhaps, to others also. In the firstplace, I know of nothing better for Roland; for you, Eric, are soentirely accustomed to him, that you do not now offer him that supportwhich he, perhaps, may need for a long time yet."
Sonnenkamp's countenance relaxed. It was nothing after all. This womanseemed in truth noble and pure; for she was not so prudent, no onecould be so prudent, as to assume forthwith such a mask of virtue. Hewas not a little astonished, however, when Eric, with all sorts ofexcuses and pretexts, gave it as his opinion that it was not wise totransport the Professor's delicately organized nature at this time intotheir stormy life.
Just because Eric sought so earnestly to defend himself against such asuspicion, it became clearer to Sonnenkamp that he did not feeljustified in bringing any new person into close relations with hisfamily.
Inwardly chafing, but yet smiling with an excess of friendliness, hesaid that he would invite the Professor, and would leave him free tostay either at the green cottage or at the villa.
The mother gave her voice for the former.
Sonnenkamp nodded very approvingly. He summoned a servant, and orderedthat no one should interrupt them. Then, addressing both, he said thathe had something momentous to discuss with them; that it was a stepwhich concerned his inmost soul, and which alone could make him whollyfree.
Eric and his mother trembled. Did Sonnenkamp already know? He,meanwhile, seated himself calmly and began:
"Noble lady, you have done a great thing for me, and now I commit intoyour hands, and your keeping, my fate and that of those who belong tome."
He made a pause and then proceeded:
"From out of the midst of the riot one thought has remained with me. Itwas of sudden birth; and now the question is, how to carry it out.Already on Sunday, when I was going to church, where the beggarinsulted me, it was my intention"--
"Pray, do not forget what you were going to say," interposed theProfessorin. "Permit me to interrupt you with a question."
"Go on. I am ready."
"Does the source of all your wealth lie in that?"
"No, not a sixth of it. Even my enemies know that."
"Then please proceed. You had begun, 'as you were going to church'"--
"Yes, then it was my intention, in spite of my unbelief, to confess toa priest. I acknowledge, Herr von Pranken was not without influence inthis matter; but it originated, nevertheless, with me. This institutionof the confession in our church is a grand thing. Offences for which noearthly judge can punish, for which no clause is to be found in thelaw, are blotted out; we are absolved from them by a man filled withthe divine grace by consecration, sympathetic, considerate, who neitherknows nor sees the penitent, yet who hears the breath of his quiveringconfession; who is so far from him, and yet so near!"
The Mother looked down.
"Wonderful and ever new, how the man can speak of such acts!" shethought.
Sonnenkamp felt what the lady thought of him, and exclaimed,--
"Look me in the face! Yes, noble lady, you hindered the execution of mypurpose."
"I?"
"Yes, you; for, thinking better of it, I said to myself that I wouldtell you all, gazing at your open face, and that you had the power toabsolve and to blot out; but no, you, too, have it not."
The Professorin breathed more freely.
Sonnenkamp continued,--
"You once let fall the word--I know not whether you spoke it or I--butit was uttered, and so it stands. 'In the new world, where the laws arenot yet so firmly established, they summon a jury of neighbors.' I wishto summon a jury of free men, before whom I will stand openly. Theyshall judge me freely. I wish to unite trial by jury with confession,and I vow to fulfil what these men shall enjoin upon me as a means ofexpiation. Having returned to Europe, I owe the European world either adeed of atonement, or else the endeavor to convert it. Do youcomprehend my meaning?"
"Perfectly. Here must be something redeeming, in submission to theverdict of an assemblage of free men."
"I see that you understand me fully," said Sonnenkamp with greatserenity. "And now give me your advice. Whom do you propose as membersof this moral jury, as we may call it? In the first place, I mustrefuse Herr von Pranken. He is my son, and cannot be my judge."
"I should not be able to name any one without reflection. Please--I amyet too weak. This deliberation, this seeking, this thought-travelling,causes me physical pain."
"Then calm yourself. Herr Dournay, you have heard all--Have you,though?" he repeated, on observing Eric's abstracted glance.
"Yes, indeed, every thing."
"And now, whom would you propose?"
"First of all, the most sensible of men has to-day himself announcedhis arrival."
"Well, well, I accept him. And then?"
"Herr Weidmann."
"Weidmann? He is the uncle of my most bitter enemy."
"But on that very account he will be just."
"He was an abettor in the production of Herr Crutius' newspaperarticle."
"From that imputation he is cleared. He charged Prince Valerianexpressly to tell you that he disapproved of Herr Crutius' conductthroughout."
"And even if Herr Weidmann were your enemy," p
ut in the Professorin:"it is just your enemies whom you must seek to conciliate."
"You are a wonderful woman: you shall have your way. You shall see howthoroughly in earnest I am. So, then, Herr Weidmann; and who else?"
"Count Wolfsgarten."
"Accepted without opposition. Go on!"
"The Justice."
"Also accepted."
"Then I should like to plead for a man whom you, perhaps"--
"Only speak out plainly. Who is it?" cried Sonnenkamp impatiently.
"The field-guard."
"The field-guard?" laughed Sonnenkamp. "For all I care! And I give youthe Doctor at once, into the bargain. But now, Herr Dournay, set aboutit at once: the business must be begun immediately."
"Who will remain with Roland meanwhile?" Eric would have asked, butrestrained himself, in obedience to a sign from his mother, who seemedto have divined the question he would fain have asked. She nodded. "Youcan leave Roland and Manna to me," she seemed to say.
"You have entirely forgotten our good Major," she said aloud, in acheerful tone.
"Because he is understood as a matter of course, and also the Priest,"replied Sonnenkamp.
Eric named, besides, Prince Valerian, the Banker, and Knopf. The numberwas full.
Sonnenkamp urged that not an hour should be lost, and Eric ordered ahorse saddled.