gh always to select as the objects of my secret adoration,
the handsomest, most agreeable, and most admired men, who never cast a
glance at me. I had artist's blood in my veins, I could not help being
filled with enthusiasm about everything that was lovable, charming, and
distinguished, even if my heart should burst in consequence. But now I
have reached my thirty-fourth year; youth with its foolish desires for
love-sorrows, yearnings, anxieties, and honey that turns to gall, may
well have raved itself calm. Do you wish to know more of my story? I am
very sorry; but unfortunately I have nothing to tell of love
adventures, broken vows, wanderings from the path of virtue.
Unfortunately, I say. They would have made a change in the dreary grey
of my days and years, a few blood red spots, a stain effaced with
thousands of tears. Instead of that, I'm an old maid in the fullest
sense of the word, and your 'magic of sin' has no power over my
beggarly pride. Can you even imagine a bright, interesting, exciting
romance with such a frontispiece?"--She suddenly removed the green
shade and raised the little lamp to her face, which she turned full
upon him in the bright glare.

"That's a matter of taste," he replied without the slightest change of
countenance. "For instance, I for my part have always preferred faces
full of character to smooth, meaningless ones, which might nevertheless
be considered very charming, pretty, and attractive. Superficial
sweetness nauseates me. To feel strength, bitterness, even icy scorn
and hatred melt in the glow of passion, always seemed to me more
desirable than the sentimental fusion of two harmonious souls. The
woman who is to attract me, must have something of the devil in her.
Put down the lamp Fraeulein Christiane. It is illuminating charms which
under some circumstances might become dangerous, and as I am at present
entirely indifferent to you--"

At this moment the bell was violently pulled.

"Thanks for the interruption," said Christiane in a subdued tone, that
the person outside might not hear; "I should have given you an answer,
which perhaps would have seemed altogether too unwomanly. Now I shall
dismiss you without ceremony, and indeed--"

The bell rang again. Lorinser had put his feet on the floor, but did
not seem inclined to leave his corner.

She looked at him with a glance of indescribable astonishment and
anger, then took the lamp and went into the ante-room to open the door.