"On my honor, no!" "Do you know anything at all, even the slightest, concerning her family, excepting external circumstances, which would and must prevent another officer, who is not in your exceptional position, from connecting himself with the family? On your honor!" Ottomar hesitated a moment before answering. He knew absolutely nothing touching Philip's honor; he maintained toward him the native instinct of a gentleman who, in his eyes, was not a gentleman; but it seemed to him cowardice to wish to conceal himself behind this feeling. "No!" said he solemnly. "Have you acquainted the lady with your circumstances?" "In a general way, yes." "Among other things, that you are disinherited as soon as you marry a lady who is not of noble family?" "No." "That was a little imprudent; nevertheless I understand it. But in general, you said, she does understand the difficulties which will accompany a union between her and you in the most favorable case? Did you have her understand that you neither wish nor are in a position to remove the difficulties?" "No." "But led her to believe, perhaps assured her, that you could and would remove them?" "Yes." "Then you will marry the lady?" Ottomar quivered like a steed when his rider drives the spurs into its flanks. He knew that would be, must be, the outcome of it; nevertheless, now that it was put into words, his pride revolted against any one forcing his heart, even his father. Was he to be the weaker one throughout--to follow where he did not wish to go--to allow his path to be prescribed by others? "Not by any means!" he exclaimed. "How? Not by any means?" returned the General. "I surely have not to do here with an obstinate boy, who breaks up his plaything because it does not amuse him any longer, but with a man of honor, an officer, who has the habit of keeping his word promptly?" Ottomar felt that he must offer a reason--the shadow of a reason--something or other. "I think," he said, "that I cannot decide to take a step in a direction which would put me into the position of necessarily doing an injustice in another direction."