He continued to insult her in his thoughts; but gradually he felt a great pity steal over him for the woman who had not had the strength to endure her intolerable trials.
Meanwhile, the Comtesse Hermine made an end of her speech. She drank again, swallowing bumper after bumper and each time flinging her glass behind her. The officers and their women followed her example. Enthusiastic Hochs were raised from every side; and, in a drunken fit of patriotism, the prince got on his feet and struck up "Deutschland über Alles," the others joining in the chorus with a sort of frenzy.
Élisabeth had put her elbows on the table and her hands before her face, as though trying to isolate herself from her surroundings. But the prince, still standing and bawling, took her two arms and brutally forced them apart:
"None of your monkey-tricks, pretty one!"
She gave a movement of repulsion which threw him beside himself.
"What's all this? Sulking? And blubbering? A nice thing! And, bless my soul, what do I see? Madame's glass is full!"
He took the glass and, with a shaky hand, put it to Élisabeth's lips:
"Drink my health, child! The health of your lord and master! What's this? You refuse? . . . Ah, I see, you don't like champagne! Quite right! Down with champagne! What you want is hock, good Rhine wine, eh, baby? You're thinking of one of your country's songs: 'We held it once, your German Rhine! It babbled in our brimming glass!' Rhine wine, there!"
With one movement, the officers rose and started shouting:
Die Wacht am Rhein