“Yes. There were also three young Englishmen and that little Lieutenant-major who goes everywhere, playing cards and making himself agreeable.”
“Lieutenant-major! How did Hamilton become acquainted with him?”
“Oddly enough; he met him in the English Gardens one evening before he went to Seon, and either knocked him down or was knocked down by him—I really forget which; but a fact it is that Hamilton invited him to supper without remembering his name, and they insisted on my introducing them formally to each other.”
“Well, to be sure!” said Madame Rosenberg. “If ever I heard of such a thing!”
“He wishes exceedingly to return to us,” continued her husband; “he said so when I was leaving—indeed, he gave me to understand that his guests were merely invited to prevent him from thinking too much of our quiet household!”
“Oh, if that be the case, I consider it a sort of duty to bring him back here and out of the way of temptation,” said Madame Rosenberg, joining her husband, and leaving Hildegarde and Crescenz alone.
They had been interested auditors of this conversation as they sat together working.
“How I like him for inviting that Lieutenant-major to supper without knowing his name! Don’t you? It is so English! I am very glad he is coming back to us!”
“His return ought to be a matter of indifference to you,” said Hildegarde, without looking up.
“But I cannot be so indifferent as you are!” said Crescenz, petulantly. “And, though I am going to be married to Major Stultz, Lina Berger says that Mr. Hamilton may still be ‘mein schatz’ just the same, and no harm!”