"Bah!" said the Count, "Fräulein Elsa has got her interesting Superintendent of Pilots!"
"Yes," said Frau von Wallbach; "you are always talking about that; but I have lately watched them both closely, and I tell you it is nonsense."
"I have it on the best authority."
"From Signor Giraldi, of course; he knows everything! And yet it was Signor Giraldi who originally interested himself in your engagement to Elsa. I cannot understand it. It is such a bore to be groping in the dark like this." The Count, for whom there were also many obscure points in this delicate affair, thought it high time to break off the conversation.
"I think the horses must have been brought round," he said, rising and kissing Frau von Wallbach's hand; "excuse me for to-day; to-morrow, if you will permit it, I will call again. I want to show Fräulein Carla the harbour works. She interests herself very much about them. I hope that you will be of the party. Au revoir!" He hurried away without waiting for the lady's answer. As he passed hastily through the anteroom, from which doors opened on all sides, Carla came towards him, holding her whip in one hand and in the other her hat and gloves.
"Your sister-in-law is still in the drawing-room," he said out loud.
"Thank you," replied Carla equally distinctly. He made her a sign with hand and eye.
"Have you examined this charming old painting yet?"
"Which one!"
"This one, here! look!" They had moved so far on one side that they could not well be seen from the drawing-room, of which the portières were open.