"Yes. Pretend you don't know, pretend to be innocent. You'd better!… My father is beside himself. The Grünebaums are in a rage!… It was not for long: they have sacked the girl."
"What!" cried Christophe. "They have dismissed her? Dismissed her because of me?"
"Didn't you know?" said Mannheim. "Didn't she tell you?"
Christophe was in despair.
"You mustn't be angry, old man," said Mannheim. "It does not matter.
Besides, one had only to expect that the Grünebaums would find out…"
"What?" cried Christophe. "Find out what?"
"That she was your mistress, of course!"
"But I do not even know her. I don't know who she is."
Mannheim smiled, as if to say:
"You take me for a fool."