Volume I Part 8 (1/2)
”What do you say? What do you mean?” said the young man angrily, while a deep colour spread over his face.
Hugo crossed his arms and looked fiercely at him--
”It strikes me you are now suddenly coming forward with ready-made plans, which have certainly long been arranged, and probably well talked over. Do not deny it Reinhold! You, by yourself, would never have gone to such extremities as you do now in the disputes with my uncle, listening to no advice or representations; there is some foreign influence at work. Is it really absolutely necessary that you should go day after day to Biancona?”
Reinhold vouchsafed no reply; he turned away, and so withdrew himself from his brother's observation.
”It is talked of already in the town,” continued the latter. ”It cannot continue long without the report reaching here. Is it a matter of perfect indifference to you?”
”Signora Biancona is studying my new composition,” said Reinhold shortly, ”and I only see in her the ideal of an actress. You admired her also?”
”Admired, yes! At least in the beginning. She never attracted me. The beautiful Signora has something too vampire-like in her eyes. I fear that whoever it be, upon whom she fixes those eyes with the intention of holding him fast, will require a powerful dose of strength of will in order to remain master of himself.”
At the last words he had gone to his brother's side, who now turned round slowly and looked at him.
”Have you experienced that already?” he asked, gloomily.
”I? No!” replied Hugo, with a touch of his old mocking humour.
”Fortunately I am very unimpressionable as regards such-like romantic dangers, besides being sufficiently used to them. Call it frivolity--inconstancy--what you will--but a woman cannot fascinate me long or deeply; the pa.s.sionate element is wanting in me. You have it only too strongly, and when you encounter anything of the sort, the danger lies close by. Take care of yourself, Reinhold!”
”Do you wish to remind me of the fetters I bear?” asked Reinhold, bitterly. ”As if I did not feel them daily, hourly, and with them the powerlessness to destroy them. If I were free as you, when you tore yourself away from this bondage, all might be well; but you are right, they chained me by times, and a bridal altar is the most secure bar which can be placed before all longing for freedom--I experience it now.”
They were interrupted; the servant from the house brought a message from the bookkeeper to young Herr Almbach. The latter bade the man go, and turned to his brother.
”I must go to the office for a moment. You see I am not in much danger of coming to grief by excessive romance; our ledgers, in which, probably, a couple of dollars are not properly entered, guard against that. Adieu until we meet again, Hugo!”
He went, and the Captain remained alone. He stayed a few moments as if lost in thought, while the frown on his brow became still darker; then suddenly he raised himself as with some resolve, and left the room, but not to go to the lower floor to his uncle or aunt; he went straight to the opposite apartments inhabited by his sister-in-law.
Ella was there; she sat by the window, her head was bent over some needlework, but it seemed as if this had been seized hurriedly when the door opened unexpectedly; the handkerchief thrown down hastily, and the inflamed eyelids betrayed freshly dried tears. She looked up at her brother-in-law's entrance with undisguised astonishment. It was certainly the first time he had sought her rooms; he came half-way only, and then stood still without approaching her seat.
”May the adventurer dare to come near you, Ella? or did that condemning verdict banish him entirely from your threshold?”
The young wife blushed; she turned her work about in her hands in most painful confusion.
”Herr--”
”Captain!” interrupted Hugo. ”Quite right--thus do my sailors address me. Once more this name from your lips, and I shall never trouble you again with my presence. Pray Ella, listen to me to-day!” he continued determinedly, as the young wife made signs of rising. ”This time I shall keep the door barred by which you always try to elude my approach; fortunately, too, there is no maid near whom you can keep by your side for some task. We are alone, and I give you my word I shall not leave this spot until I am either forgiven, or--hear the unavoidable 'Herr Captain' which will drive me away once for all.”
Ella raised her eyes, and now it was plainly evident that she had wept.
”What do you care for my forgiveness?” she replied quickly. ”You have wounded me least of all; I only spoke in the name of my parents and all the household.”
”For them I do not care,” said Hugo with the most unabashed candour, ”but that I have hurt you I do regret, very much regret; it has lain like a nightmare upon me until now. I can surely do no more than beg honestly and heartily for forgiveness. Are you still angry with me, Ella?”
He put out his hand towards her. In the movement and words there lay such a warm, open kindliness and frankness, that it seemed almost impossible to refuse the pet.i.tion, and Ella actually, although somewhat reluctantly, laid her hand in his.
”No,” said she, simply.
”Thank G.o.d!” cried Hugo, drawing a long breath. ”So at last my rights as brother-in-law are conceded. I thus take solemn possession of them.”
The words were followed by the deed, as he drew forward a chair and sat down beside her. ”Do you know, Ella, that since our late encounter you have interested me very much?” continued he.