"Most certainly, your consent is all that is needed. My uncle Steinrück has told me that the matter in which I entreated his interference is entirely arranged; of course I do not doubt his words, but nevertheless I fear----" She paused. "You fear?" "That the reconciliation is only momentary and apparent. You could not, perhaps, refuse your general the obedience he required of you, any more than Raoul could refuse it to his grandfather, and when you next meet the quarrel may be renewed." "Not by me," said Michael. "Since Count Steinrück retracted, in the general's presence, his offensive words, I am entirely satisfied." "Raoul? Did he really do that?" exclaimed Hertha, half incredulously, half indignantly. "Under any other circumstances no reconciliation would have been possible. The Count, in fact, submitted to his grandfather's authority, when the general expressly required him to retract his words." "Raoul submitted thus? Impossible!" "You do not question the truth of what I say?" "No, Captain Rodenberg, no; but I am more and more convinced that there is something concealed from me at the root of this matter. Very strange expressions were made use of during that scene at Colonel Reval's, and yet you are a stranger to our family, are you not?" "I am," replied Michael, with cold emphasis. "There was an allusion to associations which you, as well as Raoul, seemed to repudiate. What associations were those?" "Do you not think that the general or Count Raoul could answer you better than I?" Hertha shook her head. "They could or would tell me nothing. I have asked them. I hope to hear the truth at last from you." "And I must beg you to excuse me. An explanation would only be painful, and to what it might lead you are aware." "I heard only the beginning of the conversation," said the young Countess, divining that here a point was touched that were best avoided. "It was enough to cause me to fear the issue; but indeed I----" "Do not trouble yourself to spare me," Rodenberg interposed, with intense bitterness. "I know you heard the entire conversation, and the word can scarcely have escaped you with which Count Steinrück--insulted my father's memory." Hertha was silent for a moment, and then said, in a low voice, "Yes, I heard it, but I knew that it was a mistake. Raoul, too, sees the error now, and therefore retracted his words. Is this not so?"