"Excuse me a few moments. I have forgotten to give an order in the Castle. I will be back directly."
The excuse was hardly necessary; neither Antonie nor Eugen appeared to hear it, and the young Count Arnau, who detested "scenes," and saw a most stormy one impending, hurried away from the pavilion, closing the door behind him.
The two occupants of the room stood at first silently before one another. Antonie was still striving for self-command, and Eugen could find no words with which to defend himself.
He fought between anger against Hermann, and shame at the painfully humiliating situation in which he found himself, in which, indeed, his friend had placed him. The Countess was the first to speak.
"I regret, Herr Reinert, that I have only this moment become aware of your engagement through my cousin, or I should have congratulated you long since."
The icy glance and freezing tone roused Eugen from his insensibility, and he made an attempt to hurry towards her, "Um Gotteswillen, Antonie, not that tone!"
With a look of the proudest contempt she drew back.
"Sir, you seem to forget that you are addressing Countess Arnau."
Neither words nor expression could have been chosen, which could convey more scorn, Eugen turned pale, his self confidence returned and gave him back new courage, deeply offended, he retired a step--"Pardon, gnädigste Gräfin![[3]] I believe it is the first time that you have found it necessary to remind me of the gulf between us, and I give you my word that it shall be the last."
He bowed and strode towards the door, Antonie looked after him waveringly. She felt she had gone too far, and that she at least ought not to have spoken thus, and quick in repentance as in anger, she called him back.