SCHWARTZE.

[_Angrily_.] I must know, sir, how we stand, in what light I am to treat you.

VON KELLER.

Oh, pardon me, now I understand-- [_Working himself up_.] Colonel, you see in me a man who takes life earnestly. The days of a light youth-- [Schwartze _looks up angrily_.] Pardon me, I meant to say--since early this morning a holier and, if I may say so, a more auspicious resolution has arisen within me. Colonel, I am not a man of many words. I have already wandered from the point. As one man of honor to another, or-- in short, Colonel, I have the honor to ask you for the hand of your daughter. [Schwartze _sits motionless, breathing heavily_.] Pardon me, you do not answer--am I perhaps not worthy--

SCHWARTZE.

[_Groping for his hand_.] No, no, no; not that,--not that. I am an old man. These last hours have been a little too much for me. Don't mind me.

VON KELLER.

H'm, h'm!

SCHWARTZE.

[_Rising, and closing the lid of the pistol-case_.] Give me your hand, my young friend. You have brought heavy sorrow upon me,--heavy sorrow.

But you have promptly and bravely made it good. Give me the other hand.

So, so! And now do you wish to speak to her also? You will have much to say. Eh?

VON KELLER.

If I might be allowed.

SCHWARTZE.

[_Opens the hall-door and speaks off, then opens the door, left_.]

Magda!

_Enter_ Magda.

MAGDA.

What is it, father?

SCHWARTZE.

Magda, this gentleman asks for the honor-- [_As he sees the two together, he looks with sudden anger from one to the other_.]

MAGDA.

[_Anxiously_.] Father?

SCHWARTZE.

Now everything's arranged. Don't make it too long! [_To_ Magda.] Yes, everything's all right now. [_Exit_.

VON KELLER.

Ah, my dearest Magda, who could have suspected it?

MAGDA.

Then we are to be married.

VON KELLER.

Above all, I don't want you to entertain the idea that any design of mine has been at the bottom of this development which I welcome so gladly, which I--

MAGDA.

I haven't reproached you.

VON KELLER.

No, you have no reason.

MAGDA.

None whatever.

VON KELLER.

Let me further say to you that it has always been my strongest wish that Providence might bring us together again.

MAGDA.

Then you have really never ceased to love me?

VON KELLER.

Well, as an honorable man and without exaggeration I can scarcely a.s.sert that. But since early this morning a holier and a more auspicious resolution has arisen within me--

MAGDA.

Pardon me, would this holy and auspicious resolution have arisen within you just the same if I had come back to my home in poverty and shame?

VON KELLER.

My dearest Magda, I am neither self-seeking nor a fortune-hunter, but I know what is due to myself and to my position. In other circ.u.mstances there would have been no social possibility of making legitimate our old relations--

MAGDA.

I must consider myself, then, very happy in these ten long years to have worked up unconsciously towards such a high goal.

VON KELLER.