He opened the money-safe; he contemplated the neatly-arranged papers, and the drawers that contained the coined and uncoined gold.
"What help are you to me? and still-—-"
There was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" he asked.
Joseph answered:—
"His Highness the Prince is here, and wishes-—-"
The Prince? Could it be possible? Was it all only a dream? Is the Prince coming to ask his pardon? Does he feel-—-?
Sonnenkamp went to the door; he opened it; there stood the Russian Prince Valerian. He said, with friendly words, that he had come to see if he could, in any way, be of assistance, and Herr Weidmann also-—-
"I need no assistance! I need no one," broke in Sonnenkamp, shutting the door and locking it once more.
"I have no pity, and want no pity," said he to himself, holding both his clenched hands on his breast. There was another knock.