Angelika ran to her brother and threw her arms around him. "Johannes! Johannes! consider who it is that you are defending. You do not even know her."
"Yes, yes, she is right!" added several of the gentlemen.
Johannes held up Ernestine's paper, and said with earnest gravity, "I do know her."
Herbert took his hat, and, with a silent bow, was about to leave the room, when the beadle of the University rushed in and handed Johannes a letter. "Herr Professor! Herr Professor! this comes in haste from his Honor, and concerns all the gentlemen."
Johannes opened the letter, and Herbert stood listening upon the threshold. After reading it, Johannes looked around the circle with a smile. "Gentlemen, we have been most strangely mystified. The prize essay upon the 'Capacity of the Eye for Stereoscopic Vision,' which we all attributed to Hilsborn, is by--Fräulein Hartwich!"
An exclamation of surprise greeted this announcement. All present crowded around Johannes to read the letter; even Herbert entered the room again, to make sure that what he had heard was true. There was no doubt of it,--the fact was indisputable that these gentlemen had accorded the prize offered for the best essay upon the 'Capacity of the Eye for Stereoscopic Vision' to Ernestine, to whom they had just denied admission to the University because she was a woman. It was a fact not exactly pleasant to contemplate, and the professors exchanged glances of chagrin.
"What is to be done?" asked some.
"This alters the case entirely," said Beck.
"Möllner," cried Meibert, "this is embarrassing enough. I think we shall have to reconsider our decision."
"We can scarcely withhold a diploma from a woman to whom we have awarded this prize," said Taun.