"'Then I beg to resign my position'"
De Courval, who had waited on the Secretary's silence, said at last, "I judge, sir, that you have no more to say."
"No. I am sorry that nothing you have told me changes this very painful situation."
"Then I beg to resign my position. I have many friends and time will do me justice."
The Secretary would have preferred the young vicomte to have accepted his offer. He was not assured that Carteaux's story was correct; but what else could he do? "Are you not hasty?" he said.
"No. You believe me to have lied, and my sole witness, Mr. Schmidt, is in Germany. It is he who is slandered as well as I. I shall come here no more. Here is my report on the condition of the frontier counties."
"No, Vicomte. I did not doubt your word, but only your power to prove your truth for others who do not know you."
"It amounts to the same thing," said De Courval, coldly. "Good morning."