Ambition was the old motive of his childhood and youth, one which he did not acknowledge even to himself, but which was so strong a passion that it now struggled against his love. His first steps in Society and in the service had been successful, but two years ago he had made a bad blunder.
A becsvágy, gyermek- és ifjúkorának régi ábrándja volt, a melyet még saját maga előtt sem ösmert be, de a mely mégis annyira erős volt benne, hogy most is ez a szenvedély viaskodott a szerelmével.