He leaned back in his chair with an expression of the greatest weariness.
Hermann gave no answer; but Eugen felt what lay in the grave, searching glance with which he regarded him.
"You think my observation strange?"
"From your lips, yes. Any one, to whom life has brought nothing but disappointments, may speak so; you, who enjoy all its gifts, have no right to."
"And when I find that these wonderful gifts, this dream of happiness, are all illusions, is not my disappointment as great?"
Hermann got up and took a turn through the room--
"I hoped that, at least, your marriage with Antonie would be a happy one," said he, after a pause.
Eugen was silent.
"Then you are not happy?"
Reinert made an impatient movement.