It tears the stars from heaven,
The single word “I will!”
Karoline Sabatier-Ungher
Karlsbad, May, 1861
Yet it seems she did not speak it ernst und still enough, the beautiful singer, when it came to holding fast the greatly loved and already affianced Niembsch von Strehlenau; for he let her go and returned to Sophie.
Now comes a very strongly military leaf. It bears the signatures Schwarzenberg, Benedek, FML., Fürstenberg, G. d. C., v. Wrangel, Field Marshal.[[7]] Alongside Wrangel’s name somebody (the insertion is not in Elvira’s hand) has inscribed the following brief dialogue reproducing the famous general’s wooing. It is well known that in spite of all his victories he never succeeded in conquering the dative and the accusative, and when he wanted to apply to the father of his intended for her hand the conversation in all probability developed itself thus:
“Will you call me your son-in-law?”
“I’m sorry, but I have none.”
“Beg pardon—I meant to say, may I call you my father-in-law?”
“Oh, you are married? I did not know that.”[[8]]