With emotion that struggled for utterance, he offered him his hand, which Eric took with no sign of embarrassment.
"You do not mean this as a farewell for any length of time. You will be at Radefeld for a while yet?"
"Of course, meanwhile I may leave there very shortly, and who knows where I may have pitched my tent, by the time you come back from Italy, in the spring?"
"But then we'll see each other once more at my wedding!" remarked Eric.
"If it is possible for me----"
"It must be possible for you, I'll not let you go until you have promised me that. You will come under all circumstances, Egbert, do you hear? And now I must let you go, for I see that the ground burns under your feet. Good-bye, then--to meet again soon!"
"Yes--farewell, Eric!"
It was a vehement, almost convulsive pressure, with which Runeck clasped his old friend's hand, then he turned off hurriedly and left the room, as though he dreaded being detained. Not until he was on the pathway out of doors did he stand still, when, drawing a long breath, he murmured to himself:
"That should be overcome! He is right, it would kill him.--No, Eric, you are not to die, not through me! That is what I will not take upon myself."
As usual, about this time, Dernburg was found in his office. He looked grave and troubled, while he listened to Dr. Hagenbach who sat opposite to him. Oscar von Wildenrod was likewise present, but he with folded arms leaned against the window-frame, without taking any part in the conversation, the course of which, however, he followed with breathless attention.