"Listen, Felicitas," he said then. "I am not here to be humbugged.... Still, you have not mentioned my name for nothing. Therefore, you shall answer a second question. Why--how could you dare, at the time when I was as good as dead, keeping dark, you know what, how could you dare to become Ulrich's wife?"
Her smile became more pronounced. It would seem as if she positively gloried in his anger. But she said nothing.
"Were you not afraid," he asked, "that I should ruin you for this deception--when once I came back?"
"I hoped so," she said, raising her folded hands a little off her lap.
"Felicitas," he answered, "I warn you ... let this masquerading alone. You can gain nothing by it, with me. Again I ask you, how could you?"
Then she raised both hands quite, and entreated. "Don't bully me--don't bully me!"
"Well, then, speak!"
"I will tell you everything--everything," she assured him. "Only you will have patience with me. Say that you will, Leo?"
"Of course. Yes."
"You see, at that time--I must confess it to you--at that time my love for you was not yet plucked out of my heart, and as--you see, it was impossible that we should come together after Rhaden's death----"