,
then you shall hear mine. So: 'in the beginning God created Heaven and
earth'--"

He laughed and took a bunch of grapes from the paper horn that lay on
the opposite seat of the carriage. "What are you thinking of?" he
answered in a jesting tone. "This is Sunday, and we're going on an
excursion into the country. What would you say of a banker who
accompanied a lady to Charlottenburg and talked to her on the way about
stocks and bonds? To-morrow, if you feel inclined to listen, I'll read
you as many lectures as you desire. With you, I shall at least run no
risk, as in the case of my other pupil, of being discharged by an
orthodox father and a theological aunt, on account of dangerous
theories. And I'm not afraid of wearying you! For in the first place I
can't imagine any novel so interesting as the history of truth, and
secondly you know my weakness in being unable to look at you long
without talking stupid nonsense."

She shook her finger at him again. "Don't let me repent that I didn't
take little Jean with me for a chaperon, because I thought you a knight
without fear and without reproach. And now we'll eat our breakfast."

Meantime the droschky was moving on in that contemplative trot which
distinguishes the Berlin droschky horses above all others of their race
and calling, over the broad road on which, during the last few weeks,
the trees in the Thiergarten had strewed all their autumnal foliage. In
spite of the beautiful weather, the foot paths on each side were
entirely deserted, for the real stream of pleasure-seekers does not
pour out of the city gates until the afternoon. They passed only
solitary couples, so absorbed in themselves that they did not notice
the two who drove by them eating grapes. Now and then, a carriage
dashed past their phlegmatic horse. Whenever this occurred, Edwin saw
that Toinette made an impatient movement and wrapped herself more
closely in her cloak. The air was soft, almost still, but her ducal
blood seemed chilled by the slow pace at which they moved. He laughed.

"I see clearly that your habit of being drawn by four horses makes you
impatient of this half way style. Shall we dismiss our carriage and
continue our way on foot?"

She instantly assented, called to the coachman to stop, and without
waiting for Edwin's assistance sprang out as lightly as a feather. She
did not even take his arm, but walked swiftly beside him, still holding
in her hand the horn from which she was ea