“Kipfel are best with coffee,” remarked Albertine ecstatically.
Coriolan nodded assent. “But Gugelhupf has some claim upon us,” he added.
“We have wandered far from high-soaring thoughts again,” remarked Baron Malhof.
Countess Adele spread some more honey on her toast. “I’m curious to see how Franka looks....”
“Probably prettier than ever—she is a ravishing creature....”
“What fire, Baron Malhof!”
“Yes, I confess, Fräulein Garlett was my last flame.... Oh, not a very creditable story, as far as I was concerned. I tried to—well, never mind what I tried—but she gave me a pretty rebuff. As to emancipation, as you keep saying, Countess, nothing of that could be seen in her. A virtuous maiden of the old-fashioned model....”
“Excuse me, but in order to resist you....”
“One need not be so very virtuous—were you going to say, Madam? That is true, but the circumstances under which I was repulsed, and the way in which she did it, certainly indicated the much-praised ‘fundamental principles.’”
“Don’t you approve of them?”