After a time I said:-- "If you are still interested in the lady, why don't you go to Burgundy and try to win her ?" "That would be impossible," he answered.
"No, no, Max," I returned, "not impossible--- difficult, perhaps, but certainly not impossible." "Ah, Karl, you but raise false hopes," he responded dolefully.
"You could at least see her," I returned, ignoring his protest, "and that, I have been told, is much comfort to a lover!" "Indeed, it would be," said Max, frankly admitting the state of his heart.
"Or it might be that if you saw her, the illusion would be dispelled." "I have little fear of that," he returned.
"It is true," I continued, "her father's domains are the richest on earth.

He is proud and powerful, noble and arrogant; but you are just as proud and just as noble as he.

You are penniless, and your estate will be of little value; your father is poor, and his mountain crags are a burden rather than a profit; but all Europe boasts no nobler blood than that of your house.

Lift it from its penury.

You are worthy of this lady, were her estates multiplied tenfold.