At the same time they lowered their voices, and Miss Mary's glances became humid, while she listened to the stranger's passionately spoken words.
"Jealousy is the dirtiest of all vices, and in love there does not exist any right of ownership...."
"Thanks for these words! A thousand thanks!" said Miss Mary, and raised her glass, while her eyes were moist with some half-shed tears. "You are a real man, although you are young, for you believe in woman."
"I believe in woman as the most magnificent the creation has brought forth, the best and the truest," continued the young man with rising transport.
"And I believe in her, because I believe in God!"
"You believe in God?" Miss Mary continued.
"It shows that you are also intelligent, for it is only stupidity that denies the creator!"
The commissioner considered that he had heard enough, and to see at the same time how great the power of dissimulation his chosen friend for life could possess, he stepped forth suddenly, after he had gained control of all his facial muscles and assumed a beaming expression, as though he was charmed to see again his desired one.
The girl retained the expression of enchanted revelry in her face, and with the same fire as the just expressed confession of faith in women had produced she received her betrothed's embrace and returned it with a kiss, more burning than ever before.
Thereafter she jokingly introduced Assistant Blom, who had arrived early in the morning and had gained all hearts on the skerry, being a fisherman unequaled before.