Herr von Stolt nearly choked in suppressing a cry of amazement, and his wife bounded up as if she had been shot from a cannon.
"Leo Sellenthin! It is impossible! Coming now by this train?"
"Yes, by this train."
"Where is he coming from?"
"That I don't know, dear madame. My last letter to him was addressed to La Plata."
"And you tell me all this as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Aren't you pleased?"
"How could I be otherwise than delighted?" Kletzingk responded. "With him I lost half myself."
"Ah, to be sure. And, do tell me, Leo and you--the old intimacy exists still?"
"Still, madame, and I hope and trust that it will continue to exist in defiance of anything the world may choose to say."
His eyes rested steadily on her face, while she turned to study a fly-paper with interest.