And his head fell on his breast again. All at once he arose, trembling in every limb, and opened the window.
“Young man, you have done very wrong; you will never know how much wrong you have really done. You must obtain Mr. Foerster’s consent—but go—go—you will hear from me soon.”
The young mountaineer did not wait for a second invitation; with one bound he jumped to the path below and disappeared behind the grand old trees.
“Poor, poor Zacharias,” the old Judge murmured, “all your illusions are fled.”
At seven o’clock, having regained his usual calmness of demeanor, he descended to the room below, where Charlotte, Dame Christine and Yeri were already waiting breakfast for him. The old man, turning his eyes from the young girl, advanced to the Head Forester, saying:
“My friend, I have a favor to ask of you. You know the son of the forester of the Grinderwald, do you not?”
“Karl Imnant, why yes, sir!”
“He is a worthy young man, and well behaved, I believe.”
“I think so, Monsieur.”
“Is he capable of succeeding his father?”