"And why? I do not feel guilty. I will neither deny nor conceal anything----"
"No more than you did at our betrothal!" he interposed, severely. "You were very frank then--about everything save the name. You intentionally left me in error,--an error for which I was originally accountable."
"I feared----"
"For him--of course! I perfectly understand that. But reassure yourself. I am not particular as to time; I can wait."
Erna shuddered at his strange, significant words: "Wait--for what? For God's sake tell me what you mean!"
His smile was cold and cruel as he replied, "How timid you have grown! You used to be braver; but in fact there is one thing which can inspire you with absolutely senseless terror, as I have seen."
"And for this one thing you force me to do penance daily! It is an ignoble revenge, Ernst. I will refuse you no answer, no confession, that you ask for: only tell me, have you spoken with Wolfgang Elmhorst since that day?"
A full minute passed before Ernst replied, during which he studied her every feature intently. "Yes," he said slowly, at last.
"And what passed between you?" Her voice trembled with suppressed anxiety, though she tried hard to control it.
"Excuse me, that is a matter between Herr Elmhorst and myself. But you need not distress yourself: I found Herr Elmhorst quite ready to forestall my wishes, and we parted, understanding each other perfectly."