"Will you have the goodness," he added, "to send the answer to me at the parsonage?"
He left the room, mounted his horse, and rode away.
"Medusa sends greeting to Europe," was the answer Eric received.
As he was about to start for home, the Doctor came up: he also had heard of Bella's flight.
"That is a master-piece!" he cried. "Herr Sonnenkamp, with the most skilful diplomacy, could have done nothing better than that. Bella's flight and fall will eclipse every thing that he himself has done. This will divert tongues from him: all is eclipsed by this new development. His children, too, will be freed from the old scandal; for the fact of Bella Pranken's eloping with him will count for more than years of selling slaves. From this time we shall hear of nothing but that: all else is obliterated."
Eric did not believe that the fugitives had yet started for America.
Immediately on his return to the Villa, he was summoned to Manna.
"Have you news of him?" she said. "Is he living?"
"Yes."
"Is he alone?"