"A letter from Count Wolfsgarten? Very welcome. I am very glad to see you," replied Sonnenkamp, taking the letter.
"We have met very unexpectedly—there was no reason for suspecting—prejudice as men—I mean—constraint—"
Sonnenkamp's tone had wholly changed; it had become gentle, kind, almost tenderly beseeching.
He hastily ran his eye over the lines written by Clodwig, and then said in a low tone,—
"I am very glad,—very welcome."
Looking, up from the letter, he made a sort of bow to Eric, and, as if sure of acquiescence, remarked, "a nobleman—just what a nobleman ought to be—is the Count Wolfsgarten. Do you stand as high in favor with the Countess Bella?"
There was a touch of sarcasm in the tone of this last question.
Eric answered with an unmoved tone and look, "I am happy to enjoy equally the favor of husband and wife."
"Fine, very fine," Sonnenkamp resumed. "But let us go out into the open air. Are you a botanist too?"
Eric regretted that he had always neglected to extend his knowledge in this direction.