"Really?" said Bemperlein.
"Well, of course, and--have a half-dozen little Bemperleins who would, after a while, all turn out great Bemperleins, bright, shining lights in modern science."
"And the girls?" said Bemperlein, laughing.
"The girls will marry brave, truthful men, and thus help to bring on the good time when we shall have, 'Oh Liberty, sweet liberty!'"
"Yes, yes," cried Mr. Bemperlein, "so must it come. Thanks, a thousand thanks, my dear friend; you have scattered the last clouds of doubt by your encouraging words. Tomorrow I go with Julius to Grunwald."
"I will give you a letter of introduction to Professor Berger," said Oswald; "he is connected with all the great men in Natural Science."
He tore a leaf from his pocket-book, wrote a few lines to Berger, and gave it to Bemperlein.
"Thanks! many thanks!" said the latter, taking the note. "The acquaintance with such a man may become very useful to me."
"Most assuredly. Speak quite candidly with him, without any reserve whatever, and then you may feel assured that he will not conceal from you anything that is in his heart. Perhaps he will advise you to go at once to a larger University, as, for instance, that at the capital. You must follow his advice."
"Nous verrons! nous verrons!" said Mr. Bemperlein. "But here we are at the park gate. Won't you come in?"