Sphinx-cat did not condescend to
mice, but occupied herself with men, and humbled herself before the
right one when he came."

"You are decidedly too learned for me," laughed Wilhelm.

"No, no, seriously, it hurts me that you should regard our relations in
that light. Am I not at your feet? Am I not your slave, your chattel,
your plaything, what you will? Have I not chosen you to be lord and
master over me? Am I a riddle to you? My love for you is the solution
of any mystery you may find in me. Or do you accuse me of cruelty? That
could only be in fun, you bad man."

"You take a mere playful idea too tragically, dearest Pilar. The
character of your head suggested it to me, that was all. And then--"

"And then?"

"Well, if you must know it, the fearless, what shall I say, Amazon-like
manner in which you seized upon a man and took possession of him, body
and soul."

"Did I do that?"

He nodded.

"And you are mine?"

He nodded again.

"Tell me so, dearest, only love--say it."

He did not say it, but he kissed her.

"It is quite true," she remarked after a short pause, "I did take
possession of you. That was unwomanly, but I could not help it. You are
a cold-blooded German, and different from any man I ever knew before.
You did not know how to appreciate the good fortune that befell you
when chance set you down at my side in that dreary little hole. You
abominable creature, for a whole fortnight you took not the slightest
notice of me; you sat there beside me like a block, and never so much
as looked at me. For a long time I did not know what to make of you. At
first I tried to think you as ridiculous as the other idiots round the
table, but I could not, try as I would. Your ugly owlish face had made
too great an impression on me. And then I was annoyed by your reserve,
and when I used to see you stalk in, looking so haughty, and you bowed
so coldly to me and remained so distant, I thought to myself--just
wait, monsieur the iceberg, some day you will be at my feet begging for
love, and then it will be my turn to be proud, and I shall be
triumphant."

"There you see the Sphinx and the mouse."

"Oh, but it all happened quite differently. I spoke first, I made you
every sort of advance; and what did you do? You held forth to me on the
mortification of the flesh. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. And
even when I saw that love was burning in your eyes, you remained
stiff-necked and tried to run away from m