"I warn you that I never give up a resolution once taken. When M. von Kassewitz, the prefect of Strasburg, and the only near relation remaining to me, returns from the holiday he is going to take in a few days' time, he will go to Alsheim, to your house; he will ask for the hand of Mlle. Lucienne Oberlé for his nephew, and his request will be granted, because Mlle. Lucienne Oberlé wishes to accept me, because her father has already consented, and because I will have it so--I, Wilhelm von Farnow!" "It remains to be seen whether you have done well...." "According to my will: that is sufficient for me." "How much pride there is in your love, Farnow!" "It is in everything I do, Oberlé!" "Do you think I am mistaken? My sister pleases you because she is pretty?" "Yes." "Intelligent?" "Yes." "But also because she is an Alsatian girl! Your pride has seen in her a victory to be gained. You are not ignorant of the fact that the women of Alsace are in the habit of refusing Germans. They are queens not easily accessible to your amorous ambitions, from the country girls, who at their gatherings refuse to dance with the emigrants, up to our sisters, who are not often seen in your drawing-rooms or on your arms. In the various regiments you will belong to you will boast that you have won Lucienne Oberlé. It will even be a good mark for you in high quarters? Will it not?" "Perhaps," said Farnow with a sneer. "Go on then, break, or finish breaking, three of us!" They were getting more and more irritated, each trying to control himself. The officer rose, threw away his cigar, and said haughtily: "We are civilised barbarians--that is understood, less burdened than you with prejudices and pretensions to justice. That is why we shall conquer the world. But in the meantime, Oberlé, I am going to join your mother and talk to her, as amiably as an enemy possibly can. Will you accompany me?" Jean Oberlé shook his head in the negative. Farnow crossed the smoking-room, leaving Oberlé there. Lucienne was anxiously awaiting him in the drawing-room. She saw him direct his steps towards Madame Oberlé, and, forcing himself to smile, place a chair near the arm-chair in which the fragile Alsatian lady in black was sitting. At the same time the Geheimrath called out, "Oberlé! You have smoked a cigar without even drinking one glass of beer. But that is a crime! Come. Professor Knäpple is explaining the measures the Government is taking to prevent the Russianising of the eastern provinces of Germany." * * * * * Late that night, a landau bore away to Alsheim three travellers; it had fetched them from the station at Molsheim. The way there was a long one, and Lucienne soon went to sleep in the carriage. Her mother, who had hardly said anything up to then, bent towards her son, and, pointing to the beautiful creature sound asleep, asked him: "You knew?" "Yes."