"And you will paint me again? If not to-day, perhaps to-morrow?"
"Perhaps, but I am very busy."
He turned from her and sat on the couch again. Mimi's mood suddenly turned to anger, and she cried out at him furiously:
"I know that you do not love me, and I know why. You are going to be married.
"Yes, yes," as Karl made an impatient gesture; "I know it is true."
"You are very silly, Mimi," he said.
"Ah, no; I am not. It is true what I have said. I have heard all about it, but I did not believe it, because I was a fool. You are going to marry Ma'm'selle Elsa Berg, who is said to be very beautiful and who will be a great heiress; and then you will forget me, as you would be glad to do now."
"Where in the devil have you heard all of this?" Karl demanded, springing angrily to his feet.
"It does not matter; you cannot deny that it is true."
Then her mood changed swiftly to contrition, and she went close to Karl.