The old landlord, who with deft hand was rolling up his sovereigns in paper, looked proudly across at this magnificent son of his. Then he became anxious again.
"And you won't think any more about the duel, eh, Felixchen? That's all nonsense.... You wouldn't go and risk your life so recklessly as that."
Felix threw back his chest. "In affairs of honour, father, please don't interfere, for you know nothing about them. Directly I can find a respectable second----"
"Why, the man who'll take the challenge."
"But, Felixchen, what are you thinking about? No Christian dare set foot on the island. It swarms with wolf-traps, bombs, and other deadly instruments. Look at Hackelberg; he was caught in one, and limps to this day--but never mention it. It mustn't come out that Hackelberg was ever on the island. Do you see?... As I was saying, you wouldn't get any one to go on such a dangerous errand--or to come in contact with such a man as that. No, my boy, think no more about it There's nothing to be gained by it."
"But I _will_ challenge him all the same to meet me here," growled Felix.
The old man contemplated him with the greatest concern for a few moments, then rose, filled a liqueur-glass with peppermint-schnaps, and brought it over to him.
"Drink it up, Felixchen," he said, "it'll soothe you." Felix obeyed.
"Leave the matter in the hands of your good, honest old father. Trust him to find in the night some other means of satisfying your so-called sense of honour. Good-night, Felixchen."
"The good, honest old father" had not promised more than he was able to perform.
The next morning, when he met his son at the breakfast table, he asked in an accent of benevolent sympathy--
"Well, Felixchen, have you slept off all those silly notions?"
Felix grew angry. "I told you, father, that on that subject you were----"
"Totally ignorant! Very good, my boy. But I want to be clear on one point. Is it with the Baron von Schranden that you propose to fight a duel, or with Lieutenant Baumgart?"
Felix did not answer at once. A suspicion of what his father was darkly hinting, dawned on him.
"Don't deal in subterfuges, father," he said. "I am an upright, simple soldier, and don't understand them."
"But, Felix, you needn't be so headstrong. I mean well. As the Baron von Schranden never was an officer, there is no reason why you should concern yourself about him; and as Lieutenant Baumgart has proved a swindler, and assumed a false name, he is equally beneath your notice."