This declaration left nothing to be wished for as regarded energy; but Falkenried's face was deathly pale, and his voice had a hollow, menacing sound. One could see how fearfully the interview had excited him. He was scarcely able to preserve the semblance of outward composure.
The attorney seemed to see the uselessness of further endeavor, and only shrugged his shoulders.
"If this is your last word, then my errand is at an end, and we will determine hereafter what our next step will be. I regret having troubled you about the matter, Herr Major." He bowed himself out with the same cool, indifferent manner with which he had entered. As the door closed upon him, Falkenried sprang up and began pacing excitedly up and down the room; there were a few minutes of oppressive silence, then Wallmoden said, half aloud: "You should not have done that. Zalika will not resign herself readily to your no; she made a desperate struggle for her child in the beginning."
"But I obtained the victory. It is to be hoped she has not forgotten that."
"At that time the question concerned the possession of the child," objected the secretary. "Now the mother only asks permission to see him again, and you will not be able to refuse her that, if she demands it peremptorily."
The Major stopped suddenly, and his voice was full of undisguised contempt as he answered:
"She will not venture to do that after all that has happened. Zalika learned to know me in the hour of our separation; she'll be cautious about driving me to extremes a second time."
"But perhaps she will seek to accomplish secretly what you have openly refused."
"That is impossible; the discipline of our institution is so severe there could be no intercourse here of which I should not learn at once."
Wallmoden did not seem to share his friend's confidence. He shook his head doubtfully.