“And your intention,” he went on, “was to go to Beroldstein? And there get married? Out of Rollmar’s jurisdiction? Am I right?”
“If it gives you any satisfaction to know it, you are not far wrong.”
“Ah!” He was pleased at the successful display of his many-sided power. “But there is one thing I do not know, except negatively, and cannot guess.”
“Indeed?” There was perhaps more sarcasm in the word than he liked.
“Your real name and rank. I only know that you are not what you have given yourself out to be.”
“And what is your idea, Count?”
“That your rank is higher than it appears.”
“And to that is to be ascribed the unusual respect with which you have thought proper to treat me?”
His face darkened at the irony of the rebuke which, dangerous as it was, she could not restrain.
“To me,” he returned, as the cloud passed away, “you are only the most beautiful of earthly women. As a man, as your devoted lover, I am content with that; as your host and protector I am entitled to know more.”