A sign from the commandant almost at once put an end to the awkward situation, and gave the young men liberty to go and sit at the table farthest away from the window at the back of the room. "It is quite by chance that you meet me here," said Farnow, in a slightly sarcastic tone, which revealed the pride of the Prussian lieutenant. "My regiment is hardly ever here--it is mostly infantry officers who come here.... I generally go to the 'Germania'--but we have just been reconnoitring, as you see, and my commandant was very hot.... You will pardon me, my dear Oberlé, for having sent for you." "On the contrary, it was very friendly. You could hardly leave your chiefs." "And I wanted to renew my acquaintance with you. I have not seen you for so long, not since Munich days. You had just gone past the corner of the house over there, when I said to the servant, 'That is one of my friends! Run and fetch M. Oberlé here!'" "And truly, you see me very happy, Farnow." The two young men looked at each other with the curiosity of two beings who try to fill in the unknown years. "What sort of a life has he led? What does he think of me? How far can I trust him?" "I fancy," said Farnow, "that you have arrived quite recently?" "Just so; I came at the end of February." "They told me that you were going to commence your military service in October in the Hussars." "That is true." "Do you know, Oberlé, that I had the honour of meeting your father in society last winter? I asked to be introduced." "Excuse me, I am still such a new-comer...." Conversation languished at this moment at Carolis, and Jean noticed that the two blue tunics had turned towards him, and that the commandant and the captain were both examining the face of the future volunteer. They finished drinking the wine like Bordeaux they had ordered in a sealed bottle. "I should much like to see more of you," said Farnow, lowering his voice. "I hope we shall be able to meet." "Do you know Alsheim?" "Yes; I've been through it several times during manoeuvres." The lieutenant was visibly trying to find out how far he could go. He was in an annexed country; many incidents of daily life had taught him that. He did not care about renewing the experience. He was feeling his way. Should he promise a call? He did not know yet. And this uncertainty, so contrary to his energetic nature; this caution, so wounding to his pride--made him hold up his head as if he were going to pick up a challenge.