"The field-guard."
"The field-guard?" laughed Sonnenkamp. "For all I care! And I give you the Doctor at once, into the bargain. But now, Herr Dournay, set about it at once: the business must be begun immediately."
"Who will remain with Roland meanwhile?" Eric would have asked, but restrained himself, in obedience to a sign from his mother, who seemed to have divined the question he would fain have asked. She nodded. "You can leave Roland and Manna to me," she seemed to say.
"You have entirely forgotten our good Major," she said aloud, in a cheerful 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 number was full.
Sonnenkamp urged that not an hour should be lost, and Eric ordered a horse saddled.
CHAPTER III.
THE HAND OF RECONCILIATION IS NOT GRASPED.
Before Eric started, Manna came to him, saying that she must immediately go to the convent; that she thought it her duty, above all, to confess the truth there, and that she did not wish to postpone any thing so difficult, but to undertake it at once.