of her husband's statements, enunciated in haughty tones, and responded
coldly:--

"It is as if I should take your watch and then propose that we should be
friends, forgetting the occurrence. Although you might forget, the first
thing for me to do would be to return the watch."

Counsellor Erckmann wished to retort with so many things at once that he
stuttered horribly, leaping from one idea to the other. To compare the
reconquest of Alsace to a robbery. A German country! The race . . . the
language . . . the history! . . .

"But when did they announce their wish to be German?" asked the youth
without losing his calmness. "When have you consulted their opinion?"

The Counsellor hesitated, not knowing whether to argue with this
insolent fellow or crush him with his scorn.

"Young man, you do not know what you are talking about," he finally
blustered with withering contempt. "You are an Argentinian and do not
understand the affairs of Europe."

And the others agreed, suddenly repudiating the citizenship which
they had attributed to him a little while before. The Counsellor, with
military rudeness, brusquely turned his back upon him, and taking up
the pack, distributed the cards. The game was renewed. Desnoyers, seeing
himself isolated by the scornful silence, felt greatly tempted to break
up the playing by violence; but the hidden knee continued counselling
self-control, and an invisible hand had sought his right, pressing
it sweetly. That was enough to make him recover his serenity. The