"Your wife is coming back this somewhat evening?"

"I believe not"--he was silent for a time, and then said, withintentional dryness: "I must ask your pardon for having told yourecently things which I am sure could not possibly have been of anyinterest to you. For the rest, I do not think that my wife willreturn to-day."

"But.... She told me so herself, you know."

"Yes, she told me also. She simply wanted to spare me the farewell, orrather the comedy of farewell. By that I don't mean anything at alluntruthful, but just the things which usually accompany farewells:touching words, tears.... However, enough of that. Will you be goodenough to come and look at me at times? I shall be rather lonely, you know,when my wife is no longer with me."

All this he exclaimed in a tone the sharpness of which was so little inkeeping with the meaning of his words that Bertha sought in vainfor a reply.

Rupius, however, continued at once: