For a moment the old man stared before him with fixed, dull gaze; then rising helplessly and slowly from his chair, stretching out his trembling hands, he fell upon his face, senseless.
What cut Felix most bitterly, most deeply to his heart was, that when the Baron recovered from his swoon he had not a word of reproof for his son--not a word. Oh, if he had raged, had cursed and execrated him, all this Felix could have borne more easily than the sight of the terrible, helpless sadness with which from time to time the Baron struck his hands together and murmured: "I was indiscreet; oh, furious old fool, I was indiscreet, indiscreet!"
The meaning of these words only later became clear to Felix.
The Baron telegraphed to the lawyer--he went to Vienna the same day.
It was too late!
All the steps which were taken to spare Felix the publication of his fault and the degrading punishment, were in vain.
The affair occurred in an unfavorable epoch for him, as the courts felt obliged shortly after an éclat to be doubly severe, as the consideration which had recently been shown in a similar case for a noble name had called forth the justest indignation from the liberal press.
Felix was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
His father begged an audience of His Majesty. All that he attained was that the sentence should be diminished to one year.
An example must be made.