“My father says so, which is much more to the purpose,” replied Raimund.
“And who is the happy woman destined to make you a respectable member of society?”
“They tell me she lives in that house,” replied Raimund, pointing to the one they had just left.
“The third story?” asked Zedwitz, quickly.
“No, Max, for a wife I do not look so high,” replied the other, ironically.
“And when may I offer my congratulations?”
“Not just now, if you please, for, as I have never yet spoken to the lady, something might occur to prevent the thing; but I have very nearly made up my mind.”
Zedwitz laughed and walked on with Hamilton. “I hope he has told the truth,” he said, musingly; “I hope he has told the truth, for I should be very sorry if he made his way into the Rosenberg family. He is very clever, but a great reprobate; has already seduced two girls of respectable connections, and is not ashamed to boast of his success.”
“Were there no fathers, no brothers, no cousins, to compel him to make reparation?” asked Hamilton.
“As it happened, there were none,” replied Zedwitz; “but even if there had been, he has not the caution-money, and could not marry. If he were serious just now, I suppose his father has discovered some rich partie for him, and that he will succeed, I do not for a moment doubt. He pretends to have a regular system of seduction, which consists in several gradations of improper books—it is disgusting to hear him descant on the subject.”