"I shall go away," said the officer; "I can exchange and leave Strasburg."
"The memory will remain with us. But that is not all. And from now on there is my mother, who will never consent...."
With a movement of his hand von Farnow showed that he brushed aside that objection.
"There is my grandfather, whom Alsace once elected to protest, and who cannot to-day give the lie to all his past life."
"I owe nothing to M. Philippe Oberlé," interrupted Farnow.
His voice became more imperious.
"I warn you that I never give up a resolution once taken. When M. von Kassewitz, the prefect of Strasburg, and the only near relation remaining to me, returns from the holiday he is going to take in a few days' time, he will go to Alsheim, to your house; he will ask for the hand of Mlle. Lucienne Oberlé for his nephew, and his request will be granted, because Mlle. Lucienne Oberlé wishes to accept me, because her father has already consented, and because I will have it so—I, Wilhelm von Farnow!"
"It remains to be seen whether you have done well...."
"According to my will: that is sufficient for me."
"How much pride there is in your love, Farnow!"