Here Eugénie pulled her hand out of her brother's; she got up quickly and went to the window.
The Baron rose also with an expression of the most lively displeasure.
"I really do not know, Conrad, how it is you answer a simple question about the state of things on Herr Berkow's estate by so exaggerated a panegyric of him. It shows a want of consideration for your sister which I should not have expected from you, for you have always professed to regard her with special affection. You will find yourself in an awkward position when the divorce proceedings become known. What figure you will then make with your eccentric admiration for this man, which you appear to have paraded before the whole garrison, I leave you to reflect. But now I beg this conversation may cease, you see how painfully Eugénie is affected by it. Pray come with me."
"Leave Conrad with me just a few minutes, papa," said his daughter; "I should like to ask him something."
The Baron shrugged his shoulders impatiently.
"Well, be so good then as not to touch upon this subject again, and so agitate yourself still more. In ten minutes the horses will be below, Conrad. I shall expect you to be there. Good-bye for the present, Eugénie."
The door had hardly closed upon him, when the young officer rushed up to his sister at the window, and threw his arm round her with rough but unmistakable tenderness.
"Are you angry too, Eugénie?" he asked, "was I really unfeeling?"
Eugénie looked at him with passionate eagerness. "You have seen Arthur, have spoken to him frequently, yesterday even, when you were coming away. Did he send no message by you, absolutely none?"
Conrad looked down. "He desired to be remembered to you and my father," said he, rather crestfallen.