"He has concocted plans in conjunction with you--I know."
Victor started, and the blood began slowly to mount into his cheeks. Dernburg watched him sharply and inquisitively, while he continued:
"You apprehend, without doubt, what I mean. I shall be quite candid with you, but shall expect just as candid an answer. It is said that you have been summoned by Count Conrad to Eckardstein, in order to turn to account your former intimacy at Odensburg."
Victor started at this insulting speech.
"Herr Dernburg!"
"Victor, I ask you, is that so?"
The young man cast down his eyes in painful embarrassment.
"You put the question in a way----"
"That admits of no evasion. Yes or no, then?"
"You seem to take my courtship as an insult," said Victor, without lifting his eyes from the floor. "Is it such a crime, then, to seek the renewal of youthful friendship with such thoughts? Well, yes, I came here to seek a happiness that in memory took the shape of a bright little elf. What is there bad about that? At my age you would probably have done the same."