"It is frightful," she sighed, "to live like that, preying upon others, and being preyed upon—when the world is so beautiful."
"The world is just what men have made it. I, too, once dreamed——" His words trailed off into silence, and he looked out of the window into the night.
"And now?" she asked.
Something in the tone of her voice made him straighten and glance at her. He had seen the same look in other women's eyes.
"And now, I dream no more, Countess Strahni," he said abruptly.
Marishka's gaze fell before his.
"I am sorry," she said.
There was another silence in which Captain Goritz took out another cigarette.
"I do not think that I quite—understand you, Countess Strahni——"
"Naturally," she broke in. "You have known me—let us see—a little less than twelve hours."