She felt that she had to take poor Herr Rupius under her protection.

"He is a somewhat unhappy man," she said, and, remembering how she had satwith him on the balcony the previous day, a feeling of great compassionseized her.

But Emil was following his own train of thought.

"Yes," he exclaimed; "that is what I should really like to know--whatexperiences you have had."

"You know them, already."

"I mean, since the death of your husband."