Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive
Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source:
http://www.archive.org/details/tooricharomance00stregoog
2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].
POPULAR WORKS AFTER THE GERMAN,
AFTER THE GERMAN,
BY MRS. A. L. WISTER.
A FAMILY FEUD. After the German of Ludwig Harder. 12mo. Fine cloth.
$1.25.
AT THE COUNCILLOR'S; or, A Nameless History. After the German of E.
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THE SECOND WIFE. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth.
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THE GREEN GATE. After the German of Ernst Wichert. 12mo. Fine cloth.
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ONLY A GIRL. After the German of Wilhelmine von Hillern. 12mo. Fine
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ENCHANTING AND ENCHANTED; or, Fairy Spells. From the German of
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WHY DID HE NOT DIE? After the German of Ad. von Volckhausen. 12mo. Fine
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* * * * *
*** For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, postage paid,
upon receipt of price by _J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers,
Philadelphia_.
TOO RICH
A ROMANCE
AFTER THE GERMAN
OF
ADOLPH STRECKFUSS
BY MRS. A. L WISTER
TRANSLATOR OF "THE SECOND WIFE," "ONLY A GIRL," "THE OLD
MAM'SELLE'S SECRET," "HULDA," "A FAMILY FEUD," ETC.
PHILADELPHIA
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
1878
* * * * *
Copyright, 1878, by J. B. Lippincott & Co.
* * * * *
TOO RICH.
CHAPTER I.
It was a very warm day in summer. The lindens on either side the broad
promenade drooped their thirsty dusty leaves above the pedestrians
sauntering beneath their shade. These loitered along as slowly as
possible, but the heat was really too oppressive, and many of them soon
turned into narrower and cooler side streets, resigning all attempts to
meet the various acquaintances who usually at noon thronged the gay
promenade of K----. Others indeed took refuge beneath the tempting
awning of some one of the various fashionable restaurants on the
promenade, where, secluded from the burning rays of the midday sun,
they refreshed themselves with ices, and were at leisure to recognize
and criticise all who drove, rode, or walked past.
On a day like the present "Buechner's restaurant," famous for its
sherbet, and a favourite lounging-place with young sprigs of fashion,
was sure to be thronged. Here might be seen the officers of the various
regiments in garrison at K---- and numerous civilians whose rank
entitled them to such distinguished companionship, and here the choice
of amusements for the evening was discussed,--whether, in spite of the
intense heat, the charms of the lovely S---- were sufficiently great to
make the theatre endurable, or whether preference should be given to an
open-air entertainment at some favourite concert-garden.
In the world of fashion it was eminently 'the thing' to pass half an
hour every afternoon on the veranda beneath the awning at "Buechner's,"
and consequently in the afternoon the place was so thronged that
scarcely a seat was to be had at any of the numerous tables there,
while on warm days it was quite full at noon, for there could hardly be
a more commodious and pleasant point of observation on the entire
promenade.
The guests at Buechner's were of the most select,--to see that they were
so was a chief care with the attentive head of the establishment, who
thought no pains lost which secured to him the custom of the officers.
He still recalled with vivid melancholy the war-time, and the deserted
aspect of his veranda while it lasted; he knew that he owed his
brilliant success in business to the officers and to please them he
displayed the greatest zeal. Was he not always on the watch to keep
away from the veranda any persons supposed to be obnoxious to these
distinguished guests? All such, even although there was still room
beneath the awning, were shown to seats far back in the inmost recesses
of the place. Only to the young officers and their intimates of the
first rank in society was it permitted to lounge indolently upon the
veranda, their cigars in their mouths, their chairs tipped back, and
their legs resting either upon other chairs or upon the wrought-iron
balustrade, in which graceful and easy attitude they could observe the
passers-by at their leisure.
Thus elegantly posed on this same sunny noon, two young cavalry
officers were scanning, eye-glass in eye, the passers-by, negligently
returning the greetings of acquaintances, and, careless as to whether
their remarks were overheard or not, ruthlessly criticising in a loud
voice the occupants of the various equipages rolling by.
In their immediate neighbourhood two infantry officers were seated near
the balustrade, scorning however the negligent attitude of the two
dragoons; one of them was reading a newspaper, while the other was
gazing out at the passers-by.
"I believe you mean to learn that paper by heart, Leo," one of them, a
young fellow of about three-and-twenty, remarked to his comrade, his
senior by two or three years, and also in rank as the star upon his
shoulder indicated.
The man thus addressed looked up with a smile, disclosing a handsome,
expressive countenance of a forcible manly type. His thick, fair
moustache became him well, concealing somewhat as it did the rather
hard outline of the mouth and thus softening a certain sternness of
expression which had characterized his face while absorbed in his
newspaper, but which vanished entirely as he smiled. The mild lustre of
large dark eyes made the handsome face still more attractive.
"You're an awful bore to-day, Leo," the younger man continued; "we've
been sitting here full half an hour, and you have hardly opened your
lips. I cannot imagine what you find to read in that wretched 'Daily
Post;' it makes me yawn only to look at it; nothing would induce me to
read a line of it; 'tis full of such stupid stuff in these tiresome
times of peace."
"You're mistaken; the proceedings in Chambers are extremely interesting
to-day."
"The proceedings in Chambers!" the other cried, with comical dismay.
"Good heavens, the fellow is reading politics! Leo, Leo, as your true
friend, I must warn you: you are in perilous paths; read everything
else that you choose,--the trashiest novels, and even poems if you
insist upon it, but no politics; you will lose caste. Already you are
looked upon askance as a genius, more than half an artist; if it should
be whispered about that you are a politician you are ruined, Leo. An
officer with an interest in politics is a lost man; if my warning voice
has any influence Leo von Heydeck shall never fall so low. Throw the
paper away, my dear fellow, and be a man; let us follow the example of
our comrades the dragoons, Herr von Bertram and Count Waldheim, and
criticise the lovely ladies driving past; this is just the time for it.
Look! there comes the fairest of the fair, the richest of the rich, the
loveliest of the lovely, divine Eva Schommer!"
Leo von Heydeck suddenly dropped his newspaper and glanced in the
direction indicated by his friend, but on the instant his face
darkened; he hastily looked around him to observe the effect produced
upon the group of officers beneath the awning by the approach of the
celebrated beauty, and then quietly took up his paper again and seemed
to become more than ever absorbed in it. He did not even look up as the
barouche in which the object of so much admiration sat rolled past.
He was, however, the only one upon the veranda who accorded no notice
to the fair occupant of the barouche; every officer present gazed after
her with the greatest interest, and some few, who had enjoyed the happy
privilege of an introduction, saluted her with distinguished courtesy.
Among these fortunate individuals were the two dragoons, Herr von
Bertram and Count Waldheim; as soon as they were aware of the approach
of the equipage each started up from his negligent attitude and
standing close behind the balustrade bowed low as if to some princess.
Certainly no princess could have acknowledged their salute with a
slighter or haughtier inclination of the head than that with which it
was received in this instance.
Carelessly leaning back among the satin cushions of the elegant
barouche of which she was the sole occupant, Fraeulein Eva Schommer
seemed to receive the homage offered her but as a fitting tribute to
her beauty; no smile played about her pensive mouth as she thus
slightly bowed, and her large dark eyes scarcely deigned to rest for an
instant upon the two dragoons. Suddenly her cheek flushed a little, and
a degree of animation lit up her face for an instant as she shot one
fleeting glance at the figure sitting absorbed in the newspaper and not
even looking up as her barouche drove past. The next minute she turned
away her head and replied most courteously to the passing salutation of
a rider, who cantered on a blood horse past her equipage.
Like an apparition the barouche drawn by its pair of thoroughbreds
flashed past Buechner's awning and was soon lost to sight as it turned
almost immediately into a cross street. With it the degree of
excitement which its approach had produced also vanished; the two
dragoons took their seats again, put their feet up upon the rail of the
balustrade, and balanced themselves after their old elegant fashion.
The younger infantry officer, who had also sprung from his seat and
bowed to the lady most courteously without however receiving any
acknowledgment in return, now resumed his seat, and regarded his friend
still zealously perusing the newspaper with immense astonishment. "This
is too much, Leo!" he exclaimed. "There you sit and never even look up
as she drives past; have you a heart of stone? You were the only one
whom she looked at; the only one of us to whom she deigned a glance,
and you pore over your politics all the while as if you meditated
mounting the rostrum yourself. 'Pon honour, Leo, she did bestow a look
upon you which would have driven many a fellow who had chanced to get
it wild."
"You must have been mistaken, Kuno," Leo replied, indifferently,
although his friend's words did not seem quite devoid of interest for
him, for he folded his paper and laid it aside; perhaps he had entirely
finished his perusal of the most interesting proceedings in Chambers.
"Kuno von Herwarth is never mistaken," the young officer said, with
mock heroism. "I beg you to remember that I said, 'Upon my honour she
bestowed a look upon you,' which entirely forbids all possibility of a
mistake on my part."
"Of course," Leo replied, good-humouredly. "I do not doubt you for an
instant. Why should the young lady not have accorded us a fleeting
glance? I only cannot believe that it rested especially upon me."
"And why not? Were you not presented to Fraeulein Schommer by her uncle
at the _fete-champetre_ at Schoensee?"
"True: the young lady was so gracious as to accede to her uncle's
request on the occasion, and I could not without discourtesy refuse to
be presented."
"Refuse to be presented? Really, Leo, I cannot understand you. There is
not one of our comrades who would not think himself lucky if he could
contrive an introduction to Fraeulein Schommer, and you----"
"I do not join in the universal adulation, the nonsensical idolatry,
offered to the lady," Leo interrupted his friend. "I very unwillingly
consented to be presented to her, and was justly punished for my
consent by the negligent hauteur with which I was received. She
scarcely deigned me a glance, and received the few polite remarks which
I made to her after my presentation in so indifferent a silence that I
had no inducement to pursue a conversation evidently distasteful to
her. Afterwards, when by chance my seat was next hers in the boat upon
the lake, I again, as courtesy I thought required, said a few words to
her, to which however she returned such icy monosyllabic replies that I
gladly left her to her conversation with her neighbour on the other
side, the old Privy Councillor's wife, Madame von Sturmhaupt, with whom
she could talk fast enough."
"Take care of yourself, Leo!" Kuno replied, with a laugh. "This
indifference of yours towards Fraeulein Schommer does not seem quite
genuine. Else why should you be so offended by her cold reception of
you when you were presented to her?"
"You are wrong; I am not in the least offended, for I do but share the
fate of all those who do not possess at least a million. Otherwise you
are perfectly correct in saying that I am not indifferent to Fraeulein
Eva Schommer,--I do not like her! I will not deny that she is
handsome,--extremely handsome,--but her whole bearing is distasteful
to me. Pride or, to speak more correctly, self-conceit I always
dislike,--purse-pride is inexpressibly odious to me. But enough of
this, Kuno; do not let us talk of it: this at all events is not a fit
place for such discussion."
"You should have thought of that before, Herr von Heydeck," Lieutenant
von Bertram interposed at this point. He had been an attentive listener
to the foregoing conversation, and now rose and approached Leo with
much arrogance of manner.
Guido von Bertram was about as old as Leo von Heydeck; if mere
regularity of features constitute beauty he was the handsomer man, but
in his face there was none of the frank manliness which lent such a
charm to Von Heydeck. He evidently affected the man of extreme fashion:
the eye-glass stuck in his right eye, and the drawling tone of his
voice, were in harmony with his entire bearing.
As he stood before Leo von Heydeck he adjusted the said eye-glass more
firmly in position, and scanned his opponent most offensively. Leo
looked up in surprise; he had been on terms of intimacy with the
dragoon in former years, but this intimacy had long since ceased.
Bertram's sudden interruption therefore took him quite by surprise;
before he could reply Bertram continued, emphasizing each word
as he drawled it out, "You have allowed yourself to speak in a
highly-offensive manner of a young lady with whom I have the honour to
claim acquaintance; I must beg you to retract all that you have said."
The words were too distinct to be misunderstood. Leo perceived that
Bertram was endeavouring to step forward as Fraeulein Schommer's
champion; the tone of the dragoon's voice and his words were so
insulting that Leo's eyes flashed angrily; but the next instant he
mastered his first impulse of indignation at the sudden attack and
admitted to himself that he had been indiscreet. He should never have
allowed himself to indulge in any criticism of a lady in so public a
place; he was ready to atone as far as was possible for such an
indiscretion.
"I regret, Herr von Bertram," he said, quietly, "that words spoken in a
strictly private conversation with my friend Herr von Herwarth, and
intended solely for his ear, should have reached yours. I can assure
you that nothing was further from my thoughts than any insult to
Fraeulein Schommer."
"This excuse does not satisfy me, Herr von Heydeck. As you spoke
sufficiently loud for me involuntarily to overhear every word, your
conversation with Herr von Herwarth cannot be considered 'strictly
private.' You spoke of annoyance, of conceit, of purse-pride. Although
Fraeulein Schommer is above all possibility of insult from you, I will
not suffer a young lady whose acquaintance I have the honour to claim
to be thus spoken of in a public place. I therefore require you
instantly to declare your expressions a calumny and to retract them
upon the spot."
"Herr von Bertram, let me entreat----" Kuno von Herwarth exclaimed, in
dismay; but before he could proceed the dragoon interposed.
"Lieutenant von Herwarth, I must protest against any interference upon
your part in this matter between Herr von Heydeck and myself. Since you
are a witness to this conversation, you may shortly perchance act the
same part in another affair, where you may congratulate yourself upon
occupying a neutral position. Therefore I must beg you not to interrupt
this conversation." Then, turning to Leo and raising his voice, he
continued: "You have heard my demand, Herr von Heydeck; I require
immediate compliance with it."
Leo von Heydeck started from his seat at these insolent words; his
cheek glowed with indignation, his hand involuntarily sought his
sword-hilt, but he quickly recovered himself. He folded his arms,
looked down thoughtfully, and then, after a pause that lasted but for
an instant, he replied to his insolent opponent with perfect repose of
manner, looking him full and calmly in the face the while,--
"You have no right to make any such demand, Herr von Bertram. If you
are not bent upon a quarrel you will be satisfied by my reiterated
assurance that I had no intention of insulting Fraeulein Schommer, and
that I regret that words which I had best not have uttered should have
been regarded as intentionally insulting. I hope this declaration will
satisfy you."
"No, it does not satisfy me. As you do not retract your assertions, you
of course maintain them, and force me to assert myself! It is
dishonourable,--understand me, Herr von Heydeck,--I repeat, grossly
dishonourable to calumniate thus publicly a young lady who cannot
defend herself! It is a grossly dishonourable act, which I shall
chastise as it deserves!"
Again Leo's eyes flashed, again his cheek flushed scarlet, but he gave
no words to his anger. One glance of intense scorn he cast at Bertram,
who stood insolently awaiting his reply, and then without a word he
turned and left the veranda.
This extraordinary scene had arrested the attention of the other
officers present. Bertram's last words had been intentionally spoken so
loudly and with such emphasis as to be heard by all, and most of his
auditors were justly indignant.
When the dragoon after Leo's departure went with a triumphant smile to
take his seat again beside his friend Count Waldheim, he was regarded
by his comrades with much disfavour, and expressions of their
displeasure reached his ears such as, "An insolent attack!" "An
entirely unjustifiable insult!" but he apparently cared little about
these utterances of opinion. Perfectly satisfied with his conduct, he
began to balance himself again comfortably on the hind legs of his
chair, and preserved his self-conceited smile even when Kuno von
Herwarth, without a word and with a glance of evident contempt, passed
by him to follow his friend.
Count Waldheim however was far from sharing in his content; moving his
chair more closely to Bertram's side, he whispered, "What do you mean,
Bertram? You have got yourself into trouble, I am afraid, and, if you
will pardon the expression, you've committed a great folly."
"Do you think so?" Bertram rejoined in as low a tone, twirling the ends
of his moustache. "I assure you I never committed an act of less folly
in my life, or one more entirely successful."
"What! you were not carried away then by the impulse of the
moment?--you intentionally and designedly offered so deadly an insult
to Herr von Heydeck?"
"Intentionally and designedly. I was not in the least irritated, but as
calm as ever I was in my life."
"I understand you less than ever then. I am certainly not ignorant in
such matters, but I cannot conceive of provoking a mortal quarrel
without the slightest provocation. You know Heydeck's reputation as a
pistol-shot; he is famous for absolute certainty of aim and steadiness
of hand. Are you tired of life, Bertram?"
"Not at all; it is in no danger from Herr von Heydeck," Bertram
replied, with the same serenity of manner. "Will you bet with me,
Count? I wager ten Friedrichs-d'or that Heydeck pockets my affront,--he
will not call me out. Eh?"
"Impossible! You accused him of dishonourable conduct; he must resent
such an insult, and----"
"Will you wager?"
"If you choose; but you have lost already. In return I will act as your
second."
"No need; Heydeck is too much of a coward to send me a challenge."
"Heydeck a coward? You're dreaming, Bertram. Why, his thorough scorn of
danger got him the iron cross at Gravelotte. He is known throughout the
entire regiment for his cool courage in facing deadly peril. I know
what I am saying; one of my cousins serves in his battalion and is very
intimate with him."
Bertram shook his head with a contemptuous smile. "I know him better:
we were at school together; I tell you he is a coward who will never
dare to call me out. You say he showed courage in the field? Bah! what
is courage in the field? Every plough-boy displays it. The coward
pushes on there because he is sure of a bullet through his brains if he
runs away. You will soon learn to your cost, as far as your purse is
concerned, that I am right, but even were I wrong, and he were really
to send me a challenge, I should perhaps be better pleased. Let me
explain, for I see you shake your head incredulously. I should be only
too glad to fight him if thereby I might succeed in gaining one word of
gratitude from the lovely Eva, and here I depend upon your friendly
services, Count."
"Now I begin to comprehend," Waldheim said, in a tone of surprise; "but
the game you are playing, Bertram, is a dangerous one. Are you sure the
stakes are worth the winning thus? Fraeulein Schommer to be sure is
handsome----"
"Wonderfully handsome!"
"And rich too, they say."
"Two millions at least!"
"Very fair; but remember, Bertram, Fraeulein Schommer comes from a very
low grade of society. Her uncle, Balthasar Schommer, is a common fellow
who submits to his niece's petting and scolding like some favourite
puppy. I believe her father was a miner, and it is extremely doubtful
whether he could read or write his own name although he died the
possessor of rich mines and a millionaire. You ought to think twice,
Bertram, before you make up your mind to marry into such a connection."
"But you visit at the Schommers', Count?"
"Why not? The old fellow is common enough, but his wine, or rather the
fair Eva's, is capital; although really that makes very little
difference to me. All the world goes to the Schommers', and why should
not I follow its example? If I ever am tired of going there, I have but
to cease my visits and cut old Schommer when I meet him. Meanwhile I
like very well to talk and dance with the girl who is certainly very
lovely; but I never should dream of making her Countess Waldheim."
"Nor should I perhaps, were I the wealthy Count Waldheim, but such
scruples are not for a poor Herr von Bertram whose debts are
considerably larger than his estate. That which you disdain I covet,
and I ask you for your assistance in obtaining it."
"I really cannot see how I can be of assistance to you in so delicate
an affair."
"Nevertheless you can. Let me be frank with you; I know you will not
abuse my confidence. You know Fraeulein Eva,--you know how proud and
reserved she is. Between ourselves what Heydeck said of her was true
enough. I myself have often suffered from her pride. All my exertions,
the most delicate attentions to her that I could devise, have never
advanced me one step in her favour. I should long ago have relinquished
all pretension to it if she had not treated every one else--yourself,
Count, perhaps excepted--with the same coldness and hauteur which I
have experienced from her. She cannot be approached after any ordinary
fashion, but I hope that to-day I have found out a means of awakening
her interest. When she learns how slightingly Heydeck spoke of her,
that he was instantly called to account for his expression, and that I
was the champion who undertook to vindicate her honour, and defended
her at the peril of his life----"
"You have just wagered that Heydeck would not challenge you; the peril
then is not so very great."
"True, but she need not know that. The friend who tells her of the zeal
with which I undertook her defence might add for my sake that Heydeck
is famous as a perfect marksman, and that in case of a duel my life is
in the greatest danger."
"And you ask me to be this friend?"
"If you would so far oblige me, my dear Count, I should be forever
grateful to you. The charming Eva must take a deep interest in so
fearless a defender of her honour. She cannot treat him with the
cold formality which she accords to her other adorers. If once the ice
is broken, and the smallest opening made in her armour of cold
reserve,--if she admits me to the slightest degree of confidence, I
will take care of the rest. She is no woman if gratitude to her
champion is not at last metamorphosed into love. Will you help me,
Count?"
"Hm,--the affair is not greatly to my taste," Count Waldheim slowly
answered; "but we have always been good comrades and I will not desert
you now; especially since I believe that you really stand in peril of
your life,--a peril foolishly incurred by yourself. I will call at the
Schommers' and see what I can do for you. She has just driven home, I
shall be admitted. Besides, I must leave you at all events. I confess I
am not comfortable here where every one is looking at us, and your name
is whispered at all the tables."
"Very natural after what has passed."
"But these whispers are by no means complimental to you, my dear
fellow; and in fact these comrades of ours are not far wrong in my
opinion. In your zeal to make yourself interesting to Fraeulein Eva you
treated Heydeck badly."
"Bah! he deserved nothing better."
"I will not play your Mentor, but, I do not care to stay here and be
stared at any longer,--I am going. We shall meet at dinner at
the Casino, and I will report as to my visit at the Schommers'.
Good-morning."
"I shall stay here for a while. _Au revoir_."
And Herr von Bertram stayed, balancing himself as airily as before, and
gazing out upon the promenade, but nevertheless he was not quite
comfortable. He felt himself the object of universal observation; he
noticed that every fresh-comer--each officer who strolled into
Buechner's--was informed immediately in a low tone by some one of his
comrades of what had occurred. Among these new-comers were several of
his own intimates, but none of them, after hearing what there was to
tell, came near him or accorded his presence any acknowledgment save by
the most commonplace salutation.
At last he rose, and walked through the rows of tables, bowing here and
there. He soon perceived how unanimous was the disapproval of his
comrades. His more intimate associates who had reason to expect that he
would address them evidently avoided him, and the other officers
returned his salutation in the coldest manner; some indeed turned away
and made as if they were so absorbed in conversation as not to notice
him.
He bit his lip angrily and asked himself whether he had not a right to
demand an explanation of such conduct. Once when Baron Feldkirch of his
own regiment and his intimate acquaintance turned away with only the
salutation required in the service, he paused, half resolved to call
him to account, but he instantly reflected that it would only make
matters worse, and refrained.
He hastily passed on, and felt wonderfully relieved when he reached the
open street; really he seemed to have been morally running the gauntlet
during the last few moments.
Leo von Heydeck had only gone a few steps after leaving Buechner's when
he was joined by Lieutenant von Herwarth. The two young men walked on
together for a while in silence, each too busy in reflecting upon the
previous scene to care to continue their former conversation.
Kuno von Herwarth was very angry; the unprovoked insult just offered to
his friend filled him with indignation against its author. He
remembered with much satisfaction the comments upon Bertram's conduct
which he had heard expressed upon all sides as he left the veranda, and
which were all indignantly condemnatory. Such a unanimous opinion on
the part of the corps of officers was very important. It made the
necessary consequences of the insult far less damaging to Leo than they
usually are in such cases to the insulted man.
"Don't look so grave, Leo," Herwarth said at last "The affair is not so
black as you think; fortunately you are sure of your man. Give him a
distinct memento--a ball in the upper arm will do--and we shall
probably be able to hush up all talk of the duel, which would really be
best since the authorities are rather hard upon duelling just now. Of
course you will choose pistols? Wing the insolent fellow and have done
with him."
Leo looked up at his friend as if awaking from a dream. "I cannot
answer you now," he replied. "I am not yet clear in my own mind. You
forget how often we have discussed this question. Must I bow now to a
prejudice against which I have hitherto contended with all my might?
Must I transgress the dictates of morality and my own profound
conviction and have recourse to arms to avenge words which, from the
lips of a scoundrel like Bertram, have really no power whatever to
injure me? You know my views with regard to duelling."
"But you cannot rest calmly beneath such an insult," his friend
replied. "Remember, he accused you of dishonourable conduct, and he
would add, of cowardice, if you failed to demand satisfaction for the
insult! And what would your brother officers think of you?"
"I know all you would say, Kuno," Leo replied, sadly. "I knew you would
reason thus, and that almost every one of my brother officers for whom
I have any real regard will agree with you. And this is just why it is
so difficult for me to come to a determination. I have a hard struggle
with myself to pass through,--give me time. Do not ask of me a decided
reply at once. This evening after I have taken counsel with myself you
shall have it, and I promise you that if I decide to bow to the
prejudice in favor of duelling you shall be my second."
"If?" Herwarth cried, indignantly. "How can there be any 'if' in the
matter? Have you no blood in your veins? Mine boiled at that
'dishonourable,'--I could hardly keep myself from inflicting summary
chastisement upon the insolent fellow. And you to whom it was applied
can talk about an 'if' when the question is of the vindication of your
honour. Really, Leo, if I had not seen you in the field I might
misconceive you! And what will others, who do not know you as I do,
think of you? The mere thought of their calling you 'coward' makes me
furious! Make up your mind instantly, Leo! Do it for my sake! Upon my
life you owe it to me, for rely upon it I never will suffer mortal man
to call you coward, and in refusing to fight one duel yourself you'll
cause me to fight a dozen."
"Coward!" How could the word fail of its effect upon Leo? His eyes
flashed, his cheek burned red to become pale the next instant, and for
a while he walked on beside his friend without a word. Then, when he
could command himself sufficiently to speak calmly, he said, "Your
words are harsh, Kuno, but I can forgive them for I know that you can
never think me a coward. Trust me, there is more courage required to
brave the condemnation of all who are dear to us than to use sword or
pistol. I do not yet know whether my courage now will stand me in
stead. I cannot yet decide what to do. Do not make the conflict with
myself in this matter harder for me than it is of necessity. If you
love me, Kuno, leave me for a while. Be sure I need all the powers of
my mind, all the strength that I possess, to come to a determination.
This evening you shall learn what that determination is."
Leo paused, shook hands with his friend, and hastily turned and left
him.