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THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL 37
the black eyes in the livid face seemed alive and shone
with unnatural brilliancy. I was very reserved, spoke in
indifferent tones and said as little as possible.
On leaving the steamer, we went to a famous hotel
where the Baron had arranged to meet his uncle. The
supper, wliich was served in the open, was anything but
gay. Before us spread the sinister lake, shut in by
gloomy mountains ; above our heads waved the branches
of the lime trees, the blackened trunks of which were
over a hundred years old.
We talked commonplaces, but our conversation was
dull and soon languished. I fancied that I could feel
the after-effects of a quarrel between my hosts, which
had not yet been patched up and was on the verge of a
fresli outbreak. I ardently desired to avoid the storm,
but, unfortunately, uncle and nephew left the table to
discuss business matters. Now the mine would explode !
As soon as we were alone the Baroness leaned towards
me and said excitedly
—
"Do you know that Gustav is angry with me for
coming back unexpectedly?
"
"I know nothing about it."
" Then you don’t know that he’d been building on
meeting my charming cousin on his free Sundays?"
’•
My dear Baroness,"! exclaimed, interrupting her, " if
you want to bring charges against your husband, hadn’t
you better do it in his presence? "
. . . What had I done? It was brutal, this harsh,
uncompromising rebuke, flung into the face of a disloyal
wife in defence of a member of my own sex.
" How dare you !
" she cried, amazed, changing colour.
"You’re insulting me! "
" Yesj Baroness, I am insulting you."
All was over between us, for ever.
As soon as her husband returned she hastened towards
him, as if she were seeking protection from an enemy.
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