"No, Monsieur, only Ma'm'selle Mimi. She is waiting in the studio to pose."
With an impatient gesture Karl walked across the room, picked up a newspaper, flung himself on a couch and held the sheet before his eyes. He did not even see the print, but he persisted, trying to banish his restless thoughts.
Heinrich, solicitously brushing and folding Karl's coat, waited. The artist looked at him impatiently:
"Tell Ma'm'selle Mimi I shall not need her to-day. She may go."
"Yes, Monsieur," Heinrich said.
The servant stepped to the door of the studio and threw it open. He called out:
"Ma'm'selle, Monsieur Karl says he will not need you to-day; you may go home."
Heinrich withdrew. Karl lay at full length on the couch, holding the paper before him.
A young woman, daintily featured, with rounded figure whose lines showed through her close-fitting costume, burst into the room.
Although conscious of her presence and irritated, Karl did not look. He pretended to be absorbed in his newspaper. Mimi looked at him and waited, but as he did not speak, she ventured timidly: