"Will you stay to lunch with me ?" Wilhelm accepted gratefully, and then related his morning's experiences.

Schrotter had made him sit on a divan surrounded by cushions, and listened attentively, while his half-closed eyes, full of fire, rested on his friend's unhappy face.

Wilhelm had never mentioned his engagement to Fraulein Ellrich to many of his old friends, but Dr.
Schrotter had been told of it in all its circumstances by Paul Haber.
Now, however, Wilhelm could not avoid the subject in his mind, and to make his last visit to the Ellrichs, and his behavior with regard to Herr von Pechlar intelligible, he told Dr.Schrotter, in short, concise language, the beginning and subsequent development of his love-affair, and by the confession of his consideration of Loulou's nature, gave a clew to his delay, coolness, and final renunciation.
When Wilhelm had finished, and raised his eyes questioningly to Schrotter, the latter said, after a short silence: "I congratulate you on the quiet way in which you have told me all this.

For a young fellow of twenty-six with deep feelings it is little short of a wonder.

But the question is, what do you intend to do ?" "Nothing," answered Wilhelm simply.
"You will not call out Herr von Pechlar ?" "No." "And if Herr von Pechlar challenges you ?" "He challenge me ?" "Certainly; for although he is the direct offender, we can't overlook the fact, dear Eynhardt, that you first insulted him, which by a nice point of honor would justify him in taking the first steps.