"Yes, it wrought ruin indeed," Ernst said, dreamily, still gazing towards the mountains.
"And therefore let the Wolkenstein alone for the present," Veit entreated. "This clearing up of the skies is not going to last, I assure you. We cannot undertake the feat now."
Ernst shrugged his shoulders: "I did not ask you to go with me. Stay at home if you are afraid, Gronau."
Veit's brown face showed irritation, but he controlled himself: "We have surely shared enough of adventure together, Herr Waltenberg, to set your mind at rest with regard to my timidity. I will go with you to the extent of what is possible; you, I fear, mean to go farther, and your mood is not one to enable you to encounter danger coolly."
"You are mistaken; my mood is excellent, and I ara going to make this ascent, with or without guides; if needs must I will go alone."
Gronau was familiar with this tone, and knew that there was nothing to be done in opposition to it; nevertheless he made one last attempt. He supposed that there would be an outbreak, but he determined to speak: "Remember your promise. You promised Baroness Thurgau to avoid the Wolkenstein."
Ernst started: his change of colour, the flash of menace in his eyes, betrayed how he suffered by the touch upon his bleeding wound; but in a moment he had shrouded himself in a frigid composure that forbade all further discussion.
"The circumstances under which I made that promise no longer exist. Moreover, I must entreat that all allusion to them in my presence be avoided for the future."
He went to his room, turning upon the threshold to say, "At eight o'clock to-morrow morning you will have the carriage ready for a drive to Oberstein."