'Beyond my fondest hopes; but she knew not that I had seen her, nor, in truth, did I care much to intrude upon her.'
'Intrude!—upon your intended?'
'That is the word,' said the Count, with a strange smile.
'Why, Herr Graf?'
'Don't "Herr Graf" me. Call me Heinrich.'
'Well?'
'A deuced fellow, named Ludwig Mansfeld (I found it so in the Fremden Buch, at the Grand Hotel), has cut me out—quite.'
'Have him out in another fashion, and I am the man to measure the ground for you.'
'Thanks, Carl, but I would rather fire at my own figure in a mirror,' said Frankenburg, laughing.
'You are sure your friends expect me at the Schloss?'