CHAPTER X.
A KNIGHT ERRANT.
It was difficult to hunt up Pranken, for he had lost himself when heleft Villa Eden. No man ever walked with a firmer and a prouder step,while at the same time he was inwardly crushed, than Pranken. It wassomething more than external assumption, it was an habitual assurancethat sustained him.
Pranken would have taken it hard if Manna had rejected him in order tobecome a nun. But to reject him on account of preference for another,reject him,--Otto von Pranken!--He was touched to the quick. Otto vonPranken had been refused; and he was very deeply in love. Can Otto vonPranken offer love, and not have it reciprocated? If the girl had takenthe veil, and renounced the world, she would have renounced him withthe rest, for he was a part of the world; but to be refused in thisway, and dismissed on account of another man!--. Otto von Prankenloves, and his suit is not accepted!
"Unprecedented!" He ground his teeth with rage. He never thought ofwhat he had been guilty of in his life: he only felt his dignityinsulted, his pride mortified, and his love scorned; for he lovedManna, and wanted to be united to her, and naturally, also, to hermoney; then he would be all right, and indulge his passion for handsomehorses.
What should now become of him? For the first time in his life, Prankenfelt a pity for himself: it seemed to him that he was misunderstood,misappreciated virtue, but, more than all, as if nobleness of bearinghad been insulted, and fidelity rewarded with ingratitude. How greatsacrifices he had made for this family! And now? It appeared to him asif there were a black funeral-procession passing along in his thoughts:you cannot crowd through it, you must wait until it has all gone by.
He rode away as if he had been thrust out of the world. Where shall heturn? To whom shall he complain?
Is Otto von Pranken to complain to a man, to appear in a helplesscondition before any one?
He laughed outright as he now called to mind that he had contractedlarge debts, in anticipation of the millions which would certainly behis. What next?
Involuntarily he turned round once more, and looked back at Villa Eden.
There was only a single line needed, only a brief interview: yes, hehad but to ride back, and represent this to Sonnenkamp, in order tocome away with hundreds of thousands. But no, it must not be done.
"Fie!" said he to himself, "how could you ever have such a thought asthat?"
He rode on, and came to the country-house of Herr von Endlich. Therewas a young widow here: should he now go in? He knew that his proposalwould not be rejected here. No, not yet. But he reined in anddismounted. He asked after the gracious lady, and was told that she wastravelling in Italy with her brother.
Sneering contemptuously at himself, he again mounted his horse.
He would tell Bella and Clodwig,--no, not even that. He had not takenthem into his counsel: in opposition to the rest of the world, he hadconnected himself with Sonnenkamp, and was he now to be pitied byClodwig, and stuffed with wise saws?
He turned his horse, and, riding up along the river, he came to VillaEden again, and the horse wanted to turn in at the gate; but with whipand spur he urged him on.
He rode to the Priest's, and sent for Fraeulein Perini, who came.
First he asked her if she wished to remain any longer in the family.
Fraeulein Perini, looking him full in the face, declared that she hopedshe had not mistaken him in supposing that he would not abandon everything to the Huguenots. She asserted that she was the daughter of a manwho had fallen in a duel caused by a less provocation.
The Priest here said,--
"My noble young friend! Not that, no, not that: what does it signify,this petty duel in a corner of the wood, and you killing one man even,according to the code of honor? You sons of the nobility must wage,under the banner of the Pope, the great contest with the revolution.Also for your own sake. On that field will be fought the great duelbetween faith and irreligion, between eternal law and frivolousself-deification, and the victory is yours."
Pranken smiled to himself; but he did not express how odd it seemed tohim, when the Priest went on to state, that, before it was known howSonnenkamp's money had been acquired, they might have applied a part ofit to holy ends; but now it could not be done.
Pranken looked at the Priest, and smiled. Did not the Priest know theorigin of the money before this?
He had it on his lips to say, "It is very amiable and prudent in younow, when nothing can be got, to act as if you had declined it." But itwas not necessary; and why should he imbitter against him the onlyparties who remained his friends? Yes, he was here still an honoredpersonage, not the solitary, abandoned one, who rode outside there onthe road, up and down, not knowing which way to turn. He would now beprudent, he would play with men. He said he had separated fromSonnenkamp, because the latter would not give up to him, and devote alarge sum for a pious purpose. He had the right to say this, hethought, for he had desired that it should be done. This was what hewould now maintain; Manna's refusal was by this means put out of sight,and his obstinate adherence to Sonnenkamp had in it a sort of religiousconsecration.
The Priest reminded Pranken that to-day was the time for the churchconference, and he was expected to be there.
Pranken took leave.
Fraeulein Perini returned to the Villa, wearing a proud smile. Oddpeople, these Germans! She would at any rate stay until she had gotenough for herself; she did not want to leave empty-handed.
Pranken rode off. He passed the villa which had belonged to theCabinetsrath. Ah! they were prudent, they had secured their part of thebooty before the decision. Why were you so simple, so considerate, andso trustful?
He put up his horse at the station, and rode in the cars to the citywhere the Bishop lived. He was expected there; but how was he topresent himself to the company? He came, luckily, just as the meetinghad broken up. He was received with marked consideration at the palaceof the Bishop; and he was glad to feel that there was still honor forhim in the world: and here he came to a hurried resolve.
Here, also, Bella's messenger overtook him.
He set out, and reached Wolfsgarten. The first person he met was theBanker, who told him, with great emotion, that Clodwig was very ill.Pranken looked haughtily at the man; but he had good breeding enough toaddress him civilly.
He came to Bella. After she had told him of Clodwig's illness, shelauded Pranken as the only true freeman in remaining true toSonnenkamp.
Pranken pressed his lips together, but made no reply. It was not thetime now to make known what had happened, and the conclusion he hadformed. And, when Bella asked him why he seemed so disturbed, he couldgive no answer.
"Why were you not at the trial? Have you come from Villa Eden? How arethey there?" asked Bella.
"I don't know," Pranken finally replied.
Yes, how are they at Villa Eden!