“Paul! What do you mean?”

“O Welt du bist so nichtig!

Du bist so klein, O Rom!”

They lapsed into silence then, for Marie saw that he was in one of those unintelligible moods, which had often come upon him, but which she had never seen so pronounced.

“Why did you stay away all day?” she asked.

“Have I been away all day? I had forgotten.”

“I have been lonely and miserable, Paul.”

“I am sorry. I have forgotten.”

“How could you forget?”

“How? There are plenty of ways to forget.” He arose and strode up and down the room restlessly.