"Your godfather spoke to me of this young man, who, it seems, wants to complete his studies in philosophy."
The poor little star trembled. She was on the point of confessing all her presentiments, her terrors, to her father…. But he had just sat down to his desk and seemed already indifferent to what was going on around him. She went softly out of the library, following her mother, who was bearing away the newspaper excerpts and the royal jewel cases.
In the beautiful house which Countess Styvens occupied with her son, an animated discussion was taking place at the same moment between Baron von Berger and Count Albert.
"I advise you, my boy," the Baron was saying brusquely, "to ask for another post. You, so sensible, too sensible, for a man of your age, in fact it's a little ridiculous…."
"That has nothing to do with it," returned the younger man coolly.
"All very well, but my quasi-paternal duty is to stop you before certain danger. You admit that you adore this young star of seventeen, the daughter of a philosopher of high standing. You do not intend, I suppose, to make her your mistress?"
Albert Styvens felt the blood run into his temples, but he did not answer.
The Baron continued, more determinedly, "You do not intend to propose her as a daughter-in-law to your mother?"
For an instant a vertigo froze the young man's being. His heart stopped beating, his throat contracted with a terrific pressure of blood. He did not answer a word.
"In God's name," cried the Baron violently, "am I in the presence of a woman or a man?"