"Wait a bit," he thought; "I'll soon bring her down."
"But your stupid conduct to my cousin," she continued, "compels me to speak very seriously to you."
Kurt felt very much as if a bucket of cold water had been hurled at him. It was evident what had happened. Elly had told tales, and Hertha, whether jealous or not, had made up her mind to put obstacles in his way.
"I beg pardon, countess," he said, raising his hand in dignified protest. "This is a matter of a very private nature. I don't know how far and by what means you have gained the confidence of your cousin Fräulein Elly, and I, for my part, cannot flatter myself that I have your confidence; therefore, if you will allow me----"
He raised his hat as a sign that he desired to end the conversation.
"Listen to me, if you please, Herr Kandidat," said Hertha, and her eyes flashed wrathfully. "If you adopt this tone towards me, it will be the worse for you."
"You talk in riddles," he replied, with a smirk.
"I am ready to express myself as plainly as you like," said Hertha. "I have run over here secretly, and at great risk, and you thought of going away and leaving me in the lurch like a naughty schoolboy."
In his most cavalier style he begged her pardon, and submitted to hear what was coming.
"Why don't you leave my cousin alone?" asked Hertha, measuring him with a scornful eye from head to toe.