“Father, my sister and I are going to take leave of you.”
“What is this?” said the old noble surprised. “How about the army?”
“I am not in the army: happily, the King does not require my services.”
“I do not understand the ‘happily?’”
“I am not driven to the extremity of preferring dishonor to fortune—there you have it.”
“But your sister? does she entertain the same ideas about duty?” asked the baron frowning.
“She has had to rank them beneath those the utmost necessity.”
The baron rose from his chair, grumbling:
“What a foolish pack these riddle-makers are!”
“If what I say is an enigma to you, then I will make it clear. My sister is obliged to go away lest she be dishonored.”