He arose to go. When he had got as far as the door Frederick entered to deliver a note from Gieshübler, addressed, of course, to her Ladyship.
Effi took it. "A secret correspondence with Gieshübler," she said.
"Material for another fit of jealousy on the part of my austere Lord.
Or isn't it?"
"No, not quite, my dear Effi. I am so foolish as to make a distinction between Crampas and Gieshübler. They are not the same number of carats fine, so to speak. You know, the value of gold is estimated by carats, in certain circumstances that of men also. And I must add that I personally have a considerably higher regard for Gieshübler's white jabot, in spite of the fact that jabots are no longer worn, than I have for Crampas's red sapper whiskers. But I doubt if that is feminine taste."
"You think we are weaker than we are."
"A consolation of extraordinarily little practical application. But enough of that. Read your note."
Effi read: "May I inquire about the health of my gracious Lady? I know only that you luckily escaped the quicksand. But there was still plenty of danger lurking along the road through the woods. Dr. Hannemann has just returned and reassures me concerning Mirambo, saying that yesterday he considered the case more serious than he cared to let us know, but not so today. It was a charming sleigh-ride.—In three days we shall celebrate New Year's eve. We shall have to forego a festivity like last year's, but we shall have a ball, of course, and to see you present would delight the dancers and, by no means least, Yours most respectfully, Alonzo G."
Effi laughed. "Well, what do you say?"
"The same as before, simply that I should rather see you with
Gieshübler than with Crampas."
"Because you take Crampas too seriously and Gieshübler too lightly."
Innstetten jokingly shook his finger at her.