But it was not in his nature to give up. His face soon brightened.
"After all, dear Alice, it was only a game."
"To her it was more. You are surely not still in doubt as to that?"
"She has been pursued before, you mean?"
"In many different ways."
"Consequently she imagined——?"
"Of course. You saw that she did."
He did not reply.
"But now tell me, my dear Frans—was it not more than a game to you, too? Was it not all-decisive?"
He bowed his head, ashamed. Then he walked across the room and came back.