The pastor arose on the instant; he perceived that the interview was at an end, and he had no desire to prolong it. "My _protégé_?" he repeated; "may he be yours also, Herr Count,--he surely has a right to be so." And with a brief, grave inclination of his head to each of the gentlemen, he left the room. "A most extraordinary visit!" said Albrecht, who had hitherto been silent. "What right has this priest to meddle in our family affairs?" Steinrück shrugged his shoulders. "He was formerly our cousin's father confessor, and now occupies a confidential position with his family, although he lives high up in a lonely Alpine village. He and no other must attend Steinrück's body to the grave. I shall make him understand, however, that I am inaccessible to priestly influence. I could not quite deny myself to him, since it was he who some time ago asked my aid for the orphan boy, any more than I could refuse the aid he asked." "Yes, the boy had to be cared for, and it has been done," Albrecht coolly assented. "You attended to the matter yourself, sir. This Wolfram--I have an indistinct remembrance of the name--was once a gamekeeper of yours, was he not?" "Yes; my recommendation procured him his position as forester with my cousin. He is taciturn and trustworthy, troubling himself little concerning matters beyond his ken. He never asked what my relations with the boy intrusted to him were, but did as he was bidden, and took him home." "Where he belongs, of course. You do not contemplate making any change?" "That remains to be decided. I must see him." Albrecht started, and his features betrayed surprise and annoyance. "Wherefore? Why have any personal contact with him? One keeps as far as possible out of the way of such disagreeable matters." "That is your fashion," the Count said, sharply. "Mine is to confront such evils, and contend with them, if necessary, face to face." He stamped his foot in a sudden outburst of anger. "'_Intentionally_ degraded and intellectually starved as a punishment for his parent's fault!' That this priest should say it to my face!" "Yes, it only remained for him to undertake the defence of the parents," Albrecht interposed, disdainfully. "And they called their boy Michael. They presumed to give him your name,--the ancient traditional name of our family. The insult is apparent." "It may have been the result of repentance," Steinrück said, gloomily. "Your son is called Raoul." "Not at all; he was christened by your name, which he bears." "In the church register! He is called Raoul; your wife has seen to that." "It is the name of Hortense's father, and she clings to it with filial devotion. You know this, and you have never found any fault with it." "If it were the name alone! But it is not the only thing foreign to me in my grandson. There is no trace of the Steinrück in Raoul, either in face or in character; he resembles his mother."