"I wanted to say a few words to you; but, good Heavens! what is the matter with you? Are you ill?"
"I?" said Arthur quietly. "What can you be thinking of? I am perfectly well."
"Are you?" returned Conrad with a look at the pale drawn features which told of a sleepless night. "I should not have thought so!"
"I am not used to get up so early, it always makes one look only half awake. I am afraid you will have a bad journey. There is a terrible fog this morning."
He went up to the window to look out at the weather, and also to escape from his companion's unpleasant physiognomical observations. Conrad was not to be put off so. He stepped up to his brother-in-law's side.
"I wanted to be down first," began he, hesitating a little, "because I should like to say a few words to you while we are by ourselves, Arthur."
Berkow turned round, surprised as much by the mode of address as by the wish expressed. Conrad had never before called him by his Christian name. He had hitherto followed his father's example and employed the formal "Herr Berkow."
"Well?" said Arthur, surprised indeed, but friendly.
The young officer was evidently divided between doubt and confusion on the one hand, and some unexpressed feeling on the other.
After the pause of a minute or so, he raised his frank handsome face and looked at his brother-in-law earnestly.