"And you would have it so?"
"Yes!"
"That I should give my daughter to Jean Oberlé so that she should have a father-in-law who will be a governmental candidate in the coming elections and a brother-in-law who is a Prussian officer?"
M. Ulrich kept calm under the indignant gaze of M. Bastian and answered:
"Yes; these are terrible things for him, but it is not Jean's fault. Where will you find a man more worthy of you and of your daughter?"
"What is he doing to oppose this marriage? He is here—his silence gives consent. He is weak."
M. Ulrich stopped him with a movement.
"No; he is strong!"
"Not like you—you who knew how to close your house."
"My house belongs to me."