The midshipmen saw him riding up, and, according to the plan they had agreed upon, one stood near the entrance to observe whether any sign of recognition passed between him and any of the servants gathered upon the steps to receive him, the other took his place in the hall.
The interview was not a long one.
"I am come, Count Preskoff," the governor said, "to renew my request for the hand of your daughter.

I trust that upon consideration you will have thought it better to overlook the objections you preferred to my suit." "Upon the contrary," the count said calmly, "I have thought the matter over in every light, and am more convinced even than before that such a marriage would not conduce to the happiness of my daughter.

She herself is wholly repugnant to it, and even were it otherwise, I should myself most strongly object." "On what grounds, count ?" the officer said angrily.

"Noble as your family is, my own is fully equal to it." "That I am perfectly willing to allow, sir, and will frankly own that my objection is a purely personal one.

The incidents of your past career are notorious.