Except that
he was in the campaign in France at the head of a regiment he raised at
his own expense, he has always lived far away from noise and battle;
plain and simple, and almost unknown, he seemed to think of nothing but
his hunting."
These details were deeply interesting to me. The conversation was of its
own accord taking just the turn I wished it to take, and I resolved to
get my advantage out of it.
"So the count has never had any exciting deeds in hand?"
"None, Doctor Fritz, none whatever; and that is the pity. A noble
excitement is the glory of great families. It is a misfortune for a noble
race when a member of it is devoid of ambition; he allows his family to
sink below its level. I could give you many examples. That which would be
very fortunate in a trader's family is the greatest misfortune in a
nobleman's."
I was astonished; for all my theories upon the count's past life were
falling to the earth.
"Still, Monsieur Knapwurst, the lord of Nideck has had great sorrows, had
he not?"
"Such as what?"
"The loss of his wife."
"Yes, you are right there; his wife was an angel; he married her for
love.
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