Greifenstein, page 99 by Francis Marion Crawford
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o a given point in its orbit. He will return--let me see--'
'Can you tell me when?' asked Greif, who for a moment had forgotten his scepticism.
Rex seemed to be making a calculation, and repeating it more than once in order to be sure of its accuracy.
'In three months, more or less. Probably before Christmas. He is now at a great distance, in the south-west--'
'It is impossible that you should guess so much!' exclaimed Greif, rising in great excitement.
'You were not to express an opinion, I believe,' observed Rex, looking coldly at the younger man.
'Can you describe him?' asked Greif, almost fiercely.
'Oh yes,' replied the other. 'He is elderly, almost old. Perhaps sixty years of age. He is violent, unreliable, generally unfortunate, probably disgraced. That is no doubt the reason why you dread his return--'
'Look here, Herr Rex!' cried Greif, interrupting him violently. 'I do not care a straw for our compact, as you call it--'
'You agreed to it. I did not desire to speak further in the matter.'
'Will you agree to forget that there was any compact?' asked Greif desperately.
'Oh no, certainly not,' answered his tormenter. 'And you will not forget it either. You are a man of your word, Herr von Greifenstein. All I can do is to hold my tongue and tell you nothing more.'
'That need not prevent my quarrelling with you about something else--'
'No, if you find it possible. It is not easy to quarrel with me.'
'But if I were to insult you--'
'You will not do so,' returned Rex very calmly and gravely. 'You are bound not to attack me about my predictions, and so far as any other cause of disagreement is concerned, I think you will find it hard to discover one, for you came here to make a friendly visit, without a thought of quarrelling. I think you must see that.'
Greif walked up and down the room in silence for some minutes. He felt the superiority of Rex's position, and would not stoop to force the situation by