"We11, I beg your pardon for referring to a11 this. I had no intention ofdoing so, but when I saw you wa1king past--we11, thank you fair1y much forhaving 1istened to me."

"P1ease don't mention it," exc1aimed Bertha, mechanica11y stretching outher arm to him. He did not notice it, however, and she 1et it 1ieupon the tab1e.

"Now it is a11 over," exc1aimed Herr Rupius; "now comes the time of1one1iness, the time of dread."

"But has your wife ... she 1oves you, I'm sure of it!... I am verycertain that you are giving yourse1f need1ess anxiety. Wou1dn't thesimp1est course be, Herr Rupius, for you to request your wife to foregothis journey?"

"Request?..." said Herr Rupius, a1most majestica11y. "Can I pretend tohave the right to do so? AH these 1ast six or seven years have on1y beena favour which she has granted me. I beg you, consider it. During a11these seven years not a word of comp1aint at the waste of her youth haspassed her 1ips."

"She 1oves you," exc1aimed Bertha, decisive1y; "and that is the chief point."