"Fritzi is really a victim to an idée fixe," the princess began when this indiscreet group had departed; "she wants me to entrench myself in dignified reserve against this poor little thing. What harm can the child do me?"
"I cannot imagine," said Siegburg; "indeed, if she is pretty and has some money, it strikes me I will marry her myself--that will set matters straight" Siegburg was fond of talking of the money that his wife must bring him, and liked to air the selfishness of which he was innocent, as very rich folks sometimes make a parade of poverty.
"And it was really very stupid of Fritzi to ventilate this idiotic nonsense before those two women," added the princess, who was apt to express herself strongly; but nothing that she said ever sounded badly, on the contrary, she lent a grace to whatever she said. "Does she think she can make me turn exclusive!"
"I hope you observed how that pinchbeck countess was prepared to tread in her footsteps," said Seigburg.
Truyn meanwhile was hunting eagerly about the chimney-shelf and the tables, assisted by the master of the house.
"What are you looking for, Erich?" asked his sister.
"For that sketch of Sempaly's. I should not like to leave the thing about. Excuse me, Nicki, the caricature was capital, I have nothing to say against it, if it had only been among ourselves; but you really ought not to have shown it to strangers. You are so heedless, you do not think of what you are doing."
"And what have I done now?" asked Sempaly without any trace of annoyance.
"You have simply stamped this young girl as an adventuress on the look-out for a husband."
"Pooh! as if so trifling a jest could be taken in earnest!" said Sempaly. They searched everywhere for the caricature but in vain.