' It was a scene
of high comedy, such as is proper to unhappy marriages; and her
APLOMB disgusted him.
There was no etiquette at these small drawing-rooms. People came
and went at pleasure. The window embrasures became the roost of
happy couples; at the great chimney the talkers mostly congregated,
each full-charged with scandal; and down at the farther end the
gamblers gambled. It was towards this point that Otto moved, not
ostentatiously, but with a gentle insistence, and scattering
attentions as he went. Once abreast of the card-table, he placed
himself opposite to Madame von Rosen, and, as soon as he had caught
her eye, withdrew to the embrasure of a window. There she had
speedily joined him.
'You did well to call me,' she said, a little wildly. 'These cards
will be my ruin.'
'Leave them,' said Otto.
'I!' she cried, and laughed; 'they are my destiny. My only chance
was to die of a consumption; now I must die in a garret.'
'You are bitter to-night,' said Otto.
'I have been losing,' she replied. 'You do not know what greed is.'
'I have come, then, in an evil hour,' said he.
'Ah, you wish a favour!' she cried, brightening beautifully.
'Madam,' said he, 'I am about to found my party, and I come to you
for a recruit.'
'Done,' said the Countess. 'I am a man again.'
'I may be wrong,' continued Otto, 'but I believe upon my heart you
wish me no ill.
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