The effect was terrible. Every drop of blood left Hermann's face, his fist clenched convulsively, and for a moment it seemed as if he would rush upon the offender and fell him to the earth, but the usual self-command conquered; he took a deep breath, and let his arms fall. "Good, you shall have your way! To-morrow morning early, then!" There lay something in the iron energy with which this man controlled himself, which shamed Eugen's violence, and was not without its effect upon him. He stood, perhaps himself frightened at what he had done, as if something like repentance were working within him, for he made a movement, as if to hold the Count back, but it was too late, Hermann had already turned away, and left the place. On the point of turning into the great avenue, which led towards the house, he stood suddenly before Gertrud, who seemed to have gone but a few steps. A single glance at her face showed him at once, that in spite of her apparent absence, she had been a witness of a conversation, the subject of which she must have expected, meanwhile he said nothing about it, but coming up asked simply-- "I must beg of you to accept of my companionship to the house, else you might be in danger of meeting Herr von Reinert once more." As before, she made no reply, but silently assented to his proposal. They went slowly along the avenue; here, under the shade of the great oaks and beeches it was already twilight; high up above, the last golden rays gilded the branches, and here and there a bird still warbled low and dreamily his evening song. The two walked side by side as distantly, as if, indeed, chance had brought them into a position mutually painful. Count Arnau preserved a consistent silence, Gertrud did not raise her eyes from the ground, and yet now and then his eyes searched her countenance as if with a gloomy question, and her bosom heaved more and more stormily in some hidden conflict, which at last gained the victory over her reserve. "Herr Graf!" He stopped at once. "Mein Fraeulein?" She was still silent an instant, the words would not come to her lips, and it evidently cost her a powerful effort, as she at last asked-- "You have consented to a duel with Herr von Reinert?" Hermann shrugged his shoulders. "You can bear me witness that I have done all that was possible to avoid it, but Eugen knew how to compel me to it. There are forms, the hurtfulness and foolishness of which one sees, and yet one has to bow to them. After what has passed between us, my honour gives me no other choice than to defend it with a weapon in the hand. I must bow to necessity." "On my account? No, that shall not, must not be!" Her voice became firmer as she went on, but something like a smile crossed the Count's features. "Will _you_ prevent it?" "Yes!" replied she energetically. "I shall appeal to the Praesidentin, and Frau von Reinert, that both by their influence may--"