[A CHALLENGE.]
It was evening; Elmhorst was in his office with Dr. Reinsfeld, who had arrived half an hour previously, and from the air of both men it was evident that the subject of their conversation was a grave one. Benno seemed especially agitated.
"So matters stand at present," he concluded, after a long explanation. "Gronau came directly to me after his interview with the president, and all my efforts to deter him from his purpose are vain. I begged him to remember that it would cost him his position with Waltenberg, who never could tolerate such an assault upon the fair fame of the uncle and guardian of his betrothed, and that he had no positive proof; that Nordheim would do all that lay in his power to brand him as a liar and slanderer. It was of no use. He reproached me bitterly with cowardice,--with indifference to my father's memory. God knows, he was wrong there; but--I cannot bring forward the accusation!"
"Wolfgang had listened in silence, a contemptuous smile hovering about his lips. It was high time indeed to break off all association with that man; never for an instant did he doubt the truth of Gronau's suspicions.
"I thank you for your frankness, Benno," he said. "It would have been perfectly excusable if you had never taken me into consideration, but had acted only as your father's son. I know how great is the regard you thus show me."
Benno cast down his eyes; he was conscious that these thanks were undeserved. It was not to spare his friend that he would have buried that discovery in oblivion.
"You understand that I cannot possibly move in the affair," he rejoined. "I must leave it to you to speak with your future father-in-law----"
"No," Wolfgang coldly interrupted him.
Reinsfeld gazed at him in surprise. "You will not?
"No, Benno; Grouau has openly declared war to him, as you tell me, therefore he is fully prepared; and, moreover, my relations with him are no longer what they were. We are parted once for all."