An honourable son-in-law could not but be acceptable to him--now, at least.

And such a son-in-law would ultimately be the pride of his house.

'A flower from thy garden, friend, and my wearing it shall in good time be cause for some parental gratification.' The letter despatched, Alvan paced his chamber with the ghost of Clotilde.

He was presently summoned to meet Count Walburg and another intimate of the family, in the hotel downstairs.

These gentlemen brought no message from General von Rudiger: their words were directed to extract a promise from him that he would quit his pursuit of Clotilde, and of course he refused; they hinted that the General might have official influence to get him expelled the city, and he referred them to the proof; but he looked beyond the words at a new something of extraordinary and sinister aspect revealed to him in their manner of treating his pretensions to the hand of the lady.
He had not yet perfectly seen the view the world took of him, because of his armed opposition to the world; nor could he rightly reflect on it yet, being too anxious to sign the peace.