Besides, Cäcilie assumed a very triumphant air; she had the wicked intention of making the most of her triumph, and of keeping him as long as possible upon the rack; for this astute young lady, with her lizard-like suppleness and slimness, was a dangerous opponent.
And if now actually the authoress of the pink note were to enter, the whole secret would be betrayed. He therefore resolved to take refuge in another room, but Cäcilie in her good-tempered malice addressed one question after another to him, so that he, without being rude, could not break off the conversation very quickly.
Then the door was opened again, and in elegant attire, her mocking little face enframed in the ribbons of a pink bonnet, upon which was perched a small garden of roses, his sister-in-law Lori entered.
Reising believed himself to have gone out of the frying-pan into the fire.
The two ladies greeted one another pleasantly; then Cäcilie said, with meaning emphasis--
"But I fear I am disturbing you; my sister whom I expect, will seek me here; I will go to meet her."
And she took leave with a polite smile.
"It is outrageous!" cried Reising.
"What, in the world?"
"She believes--no, I cannot say it!"