"I expected that; but if I tell you that they love each other?"
"That may be. I cannot!"
"You have some very serious reason then?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
M. Bastian pointed through the trees to the house of the Oberlés.
"To-day, in that house, they are expecting the visit of the Prefect of Strasburg."
"I could not tell you, and I had to wait before speaking about it till every one knew it."
"It is public property now. All the town of Alsheim has been told by the servants. They even say that M. von Kassewitz is coming to ask for the hand of Lucienne for his nephew, Lieutenant von Farnow."
"I know it!"