For some moments Ludwig von Salzinger did not reply. He had no desire to change the subject. His only interest in Vita was her beauty, her splendid womanhood; her appeal to his baser senses. His hard eyes regarded her unsmilingly for some moments. Then his nature drove him to the blunder which the woman had been awaiting.
"My affairs have no interest just now," he said, almost sombrely.
Vita caught at his reply with all her readiness.
"But they have—for your friends. Your old friends," she said, with well-assumed earnestness.
"Have they?" The man laughed bitterly. "I wonder." Again his greedy eyes had settled upon her with that curious regard which all good women resent.
At last Vita threw her head up in a manner which definitely but silently made her protest plain. Von Salzinger was forced to speech.
"For the moment the upward path is closed to me," he admitted coldly. "I no longer occupy my command. Do—you understand?"
But Vita shook her head.
In a moment there came an outburst of passion. It was the outburst of a headstrong man, which robs him of half his power in more delicate situations.
"I have been relieved of my command," he cried, springing to his feet and standing over her before the little tea-table. "For the moment my enemies have triumphed. But it will not be for long," he went on, working himself up till he almost forgot whom he was addressing. "The enemies of Ludwig von Salzinger do not triumph for long, and then we shall see. Oh, yes, we shall see."