"You were violent to-night, my dear fellow," said von Farnow, with the haughty politeness which he often adopted; "I was tempted twenty times to answer you, but I preferred waiting. Were you not aiming at me a little?" "Much of what I said was meant for you. I wanted to tell you very clearly what I was and to teach it to you before witnesses, so that it should be clearly understood that if you persevere in your projects, I have made no concessions to you, no advances; that I have nothing whatever to do with the marriage you are contemplating. I am not going to oppose my father's wishes, but I will not have my ideas confused with his." "That is how I understood it. You have evidently learned that I have met your sister in society and that I love her?" "Yes." "Is that all you have to answer?" A rush of blood suffused the German's cheeks. "Explain yourself quickly!" he went on. "My family is of the nobility; do you recognise that?" "Yes." "Do you recognise that it is an honour for a woman to be sought by a German officer?" "For any except an Alsatian woman. But although you do not understand that feeling, we are not like other people--we are the people of Alsace. I esteem you very much, Farnow, but your marriage with my sister will cruelly affect three persons among us--myself first of all." "How? I ask you!" They were obliged to speak in an undertone and to avoid any gestures, because of the presence of the Geheimrath's guests at the farther end of the room, who were observing the young men, and were trying to interpret their attitudes. All their emotion and their irritation was in their eyes and in the whispering of words which must only be heard by one person. Through the sheet of plate-glass, Lucienne could see von Farnow, and getting up and crossing the drawing-room, or pretending to admire the basket of flowers which stood out from the frame-work, she looked inquiringly at the faces of the officer and of her brother. "You are a man of heart, von Farnow. Think what our home in Alsheim will be when this fresh cause of dissension is added to the others?" "I shall go away," said the officer; "I can exchange and leave Strasburg." "The memory will remain with us. But that is not all. And from now on there is my mother, who will never consent...." With a movement of his hand von Farnow showed that he brushed aside that objection. "There is my grandfather, whom Alsace once elected to protest, and who cannot to-day give the lie to all his past life." "I owe nothing to M. Philippe Oberlé," interrupted Farnow. His voice became more imperious.