She understood now his meaning. With a half threatening, half painful glance, she turned her back upon the son of her friend and said, with deep bitterness:
"You are right. I was mistaken."
Hartmut started, and in rising anger he drew a step nearer.
"Herr von Wallmoden!"
"Did you speak to me?" The tone was as stinging and scornful as before.
"You have anticipated my wishes, Your Excellency," said Hartmut, forcing himself to be calm. "I wished to ask you not to recognize me. We are strangers to each other."
He turned and walked off defiantly, tall and erect, and entered the house by another door.
Wallmoden looked after him with darkened brow. Then he turned to his sister.
"Could you not control yourself better, Regine? Why have a scene at such a meeting? This Hartmut does not exist any longer for us."
Regine's face betrayed only too well how much this encounter had shocked her. Her lips still quivered as she replied: