"How is Marienbad looking? Any new beauties?" he asks.
"Don't be so lazy, and come over and see for yourself," says she with her mouth very full.
"I was there Saturday at the fair. Ruined myself buying cigar-cases. I place six at your disposal, Caroline. But on my word, it is astonishing what trash they had at the fair."
"You distinguished yourself," cries the hostess, laughingly.
"Yes, unfortunately I took a Ring Street beauty for the F---- from the Carl Theatre, and asked her how much a kiss cost. Her ladyship entered into the joke, and answered that she only sold cuffs, and as I persisted--pour la bonne cause, she replied in perfectly good French, 'La bonne cause s'en effaroucherait,' then I grew urgent. 'Count Kamenz!' cried a warning voice near me. I look up, and behold beside me, the picture of offended dignity, the husband."
"And how did you get out of the scrape? What did you say?" asks Klette.
"I?--What could I say?--'Ah, pardon'--and decamped!"
"Cool! Very!" remarks Rhoeden, who has been reconciled to Pistasch again, laughing.
"I only wondered that he knew my name so well," says Pistasch, meditatively, with feigned simplicity. "I do not know to this day what his name is. His wife was a magnificent creature, on my word--what a pity!"
"I think she was sadder at the interruption than you," says Rhoeden.