Part 37 (1/2)
The most conflicting sensations were pictured on Wolfgang's features as he listened. True, he had never loved his betrothed, but Benno's confession touched him very strangely, and there was something akin to bitterness in his voice as he said, ”Well, I am no longer an obstacle in your way, and if you have any hope that your love is returned----”
”It would be vain!” Reinsfeld interposed. ”You know now what happened between our fathers, enough to separate me from Alice forever.”
”Perhaps so, const.i.tuted as you are. Another man, on the contrary, might use it to force from Nordheim a consent which he a.s.suredly would otherwise refuse. That you never could be induced to do.”
”No, never!” Benno said, sadly. ”I am going to Neuenfeld, and I shall in all probability never see Alice again.”
They were interrupted by the announcement that Herr Waltenberg wished to speak with the engineer-in-chief. Elmhorst instantly arose, and Reinsfeld prepared to leave. ”Good-night, Wolf,” he said, cordially extending his hand. ”Nothing can sever our friends.h.i.+p; we must always be what we have always been to each other,--eh?”
Wolfgang warmly returned the pressure of the hand thus given: ”Good-night, Benno. I shall see you to-morrow.”
He went with him to the door of the room, just as Waltenberg made his appearance; a few words were exchanged among the young men, and then Reinsfeld departed, and the two were left alone.
Ernst seemed to have regained his self-control during his lonely ride of two hours; his manner, at least, was cold and collected, although there was still a gleam in his eyes that boded no good.
”I hope I do not interrupt you, Herr Elmhorst?” he said, slowly approaching the young engineer.
”No, Herr Waltenberg; I expected you,” was the reply.
”So much the better; there is no need, then, of any preface to what I am come to say. No, thank you!” he interrupted himself, as Elmhorst offered him a chair. ”Between us formal courtesy is superfluous. I need not tell you why I am here. Our interpretation of the scene of this afternoon differed from that of the strangers then present, and I have a few words to say to you with regard to it.”
”I am quite at your service.”
Ernst folded his arms, and there was a trace of contempt in his voice as he continued: ”I am, as you know, betrothed to Baroness von Thurgau, and I am not inclined to allow in my betrothed so intense an interest in the peril of another man. But that is a matter between herself and myself. What I desire to know at present is how far you are implicated in this interest. Do you love Fraulein von Thurgau?”
The question sounded like a threat, but Wolfgang's answer came instantly and simply: ”Yes.”
A flash of deadly hatred shot from Ernst Waltenberg's eyes, and yet this confession told him nothing new. He knew from Erna herself that she had loved another, but he had fancied that he should have to seek that other in the grave, among the shades. Here he stood living before him, the man who could sacrifice an Erna to wretched mammon; a man incapable of a pure, exalted affection, and who yet held his head as haughtily erect as if there were no reason why he should bow before any on earth. This irritated Ernst still more.
”And this love does not probably date from to-day or from yesterday? As far as I know, you have frequented the house of the president for years,--before I returned from Europe, before Baroness von Thurgau was betrothed.”
”I regret being obliged to refuse to give you any satisfaction on these points,” Wolfgang replied, as frigidly as before. ”I am quite ready to answer any question you have a right to put. I refuse to submit to a cross-examination.”
”I can well believe it,” Waltenberg declared, with a bitter laugh. ”You would fare but ill in such an examination,--as the betrothed of Alice Nordheim.”
Elmhorst bit his lip,--the shot found a joint in his armour, but he recovered himself in an instant:
”First of all, Herr Waltenberg, I must request you to change your tone, if this conversation is to be prolonged. I will tolerate no insults, least of all, as you well know, from yourself.”
”I am not to blame if the truth insults you,” Ernst retorted, arrogantly. ”Contradict my words, and I will retract them. Until you do, you must allow me to entertain my own opinion with regard to a man who loves, or pretends to love, a woman while he woos and wins a wealthy heiress. You cannot possibly ask esteem for such a paltr----”
”Enough!” Wolfgang cut short his words. ”No need of abuse to attain your end. I am perfectly aware of why you are here, and I will not balk you. But such words as you are using I forbid. I am in my own house.”
He confronted his antagonist erect and very pale. Something in the man commanded respect, even as he thus repelled the imputation which his conduct had ostensibly deserved. Ernst could not but feel that his rival bore himself with dignity, hard as it was to admit it.
”You adopt a lofty tone,” said Waltenberg, with a sneer. ”'Tis a pity your betrothed is not here; in her presence there might not be so much conscious rect.i.tude in your manner.”
”I am no longer betrothed,” Wolfgang coldly declared.
Waltenberg retreated a step in extreme amazement.