She almost wept with envy at the thought.
From this day forward she left no stone unturned to gratify the heart's desire of the old friend of her youth. She gave him money to advertise in the most likely papers, wrote with her own hand testimonials and letters of introduction, and asked the comrades of her "set" to interest themselves in him.
She had to go about it all very secretly, for fear Richard should suspect what she was doing. For even as it was, she had to put up with a good deal at this time. He complained that she did not show him sufficient consideration, that she was cold and unloving, and that he could detect a hostile influence in everything she said.
"I suppose your talented friend thinks so. You had better ask the learned genius."
These little sarcastic speeches were reiterated ad nauseam. And one day the bomb burst. In defiance of his promise that when she had visitors he would always be announced, he suddenly burst in on Lilly and the friend of her youth while they were dining together. He had not rung, had hardly knocked, and his face was as black as thunder. Growing pale, she sprang to her feet, and Fritz Redlich, as if caught in a guilty act, followed her example. He looked sheepish, and the end of his napkin dropped into the soup.
For a moment silence reigned, only broken by a malicious giggle from the servant standing in the doorway.
"I ask your pardon, dear madam," said Richard, keeping up his threatening air and demeanour. "I was only anxious to know how you were."
"Herr Richard Dehnicke, a kind acquaintance; Herr Redlich, my old friend," she introduced them.
Then he looked at his much-dreaded rival more closely. In surprise and disapproval he regarded his unkempt hair and beard, but as his glance sank lower his face cleared, and a baffled though distinctly pleased ray of recognition illumined his features. Was not that his suit and his shirt?
Still further did his glance descend, past the napkin lying in the soup-plate, down to the trousers. And were not those his trousers and those his cast-off boots, which the brilliant young genius was wearing on his feet?