Frantz opened one of the glass doors which led to the steps opposite the lawn, and the godfather and godson, arm in arm, took their way to the shady walk in which the young man had promenaded so long that morning. "Now, what is the matter, my child?" said the prince, observing at once the embarrassment of the young man. "Monseigneur," replied Frantz, with increasing bashfulness, "I have a confidence to make to your Royal Highness." "A confidence!" repeated the prince, smiling. "Let us hear, then, the confidence of Count Frantz." "It is a very important confidence, monseigneur." "Well, what is this important confidence?" "Monseigneur, I have no parents. Your Royal Highness has, up to this time, deigned to stand for me in the place of family." "And you have bravely repaid my care, and fulfilled my hopes, my dear Frantz; you have even surpassed them. Modest, studious, and courageous, although a lad, three years ago, you fought with such intelligence and intrepidity in that terrible war to which I sent you for your first experience. You have received there your first wound, your baptism of fire. I will not speak of a duel, which I ought to ignore, but in which you have, I know, given proof of as much bravery as generosity." "Monseigneur--" "I pray you, let me in this moment recall all your claims to my tenderness. It does me good, it makes me forget the bitter vexations of which you are the innocent and involuntary cause." "I, monseigneur?" "You, because, if you continue to fill me with satisfaction, you cannot foresee the future which my loving ambition prepares for you,--the unhoped-for position which perhaps awaits you." "You know, monseigneur, the simplicity of my tastes, and--" "My dear Frantz," interrupted the prince, "this simplicity, this modesty, are virtues under certain conditions, while under other circumstances these virtues become weakness and indolence. But we are getting far away from the confidence. Come, what is it you have to tell me?" "Monseigneur--" "Well, speak; are you afraid of me? Is there a single thought in your heart which you cannot confess with a bold face and steady eye?" "No, monseigneur; so, without any evasion, I will tell your Highness that I wish to get married." If a thunderbolt had fallen at the feet of the prince he could not have been more astounded than he was at the words of Frantz; he rudely withdrew his arm from that of the young man, stepped back, and exclaimed: "You marry, Frantz?" "Yes, monseigneur." "Why, you are a fool." "Monseigneur!" "You marry, and hardly twenty years old! You marry! When I was planning for you to--" Then the prince, regaining his self-possession, said, calmly and coldly: "And whom do you wish to marry, Frantz?" "Mlle. Antonine Hubert, monseigneur." "Who is this Mlle. Hubert? What did you say her name was?" "Hubert, monseigneur." "And what is Mlle. Hubert?" "The niece of a French magistrate, monseigneur, President Hubert."