“Who replied to me?” asked Moritz, turning his angry glance away from Ebenstreit.
“I,” said Marie. “I reply for my husband!”
“You? Are you the wife of this man?” thundered Moritz.
“I am,” Marie answered.
“Is this invitation directed to me from you?” he continued, drawing a paper from his pocket. “Did you permit yourself to invite me to your house?”
“Yes, I did,” she calmly answered.
“And by what right, madame? This is the question I wish answered, and I came here for that purpose.”
“I invited you because I desired to see you.”
“Shameless one!” cried Moritz, furious.
“Sir,” cried the ambassador, placing himself before Moritz, defying his anger, “you forget that you are speaking to a lady. As her husband is silent, I declare myself her knight, and I will not suffer her to be injured by word or look.