"Let me speak with your father," said he.
"On this subject? No, no! impossible!" exclaimed she.
"Then, Eva, I must refuse your prayer. It gives me more pain than I can express to refuse you anything in this world; but I will not stain my hand in this affair. I will not be a means of your unhappiness. Farewell!"
"Stop, stop," cried Eva, "and hear me! What is it that you fear for me?"
"Everything from a man of R——'s character."
"You mistake him, and you mistake me," returned she.
"I know him, and I know you," said he, "and on that account I would rather go into fire than convey letters between him and you. This is my last word."
"You will not!" exclaimed she; "then you love me not, and I have not a friend in this world!"
"Eva, Eva, do not say so! you sin against yourself. You know not—ask everything from me—ask my life—ah, through you, life has already lost its worth for me!—ask——"
"Empty words!" interrupted Eva, and turned impatiently away. "I desire nothing more from you, Assessor Munter! Pardon me that I have given you so much trouble!"