Wilhelm rose, prepared to leave Pilar alone, but the visitor had followed on the heels of the maid, and rustled into the red salon, exclaiming in her strident voice and horrible Spanish accent as she embraced Pilar: "This is your German friend, I suppose, about whom I have heard so much.

Oh, please don't go away, I am so curious to know you." Wilhelm was dumfounded.

Such calm insolence he had never yet encountered.

Pilar shot a glance of fury at the countess, to which she did not pay the slightest attention, but examined Wilhelm insolently through her gold eyeglasses, and went on with a vulgar laugh: "General Varon told me about you, and described you to me.

He thinks you very nice, and I must say I think he is right." Pilar's patience gave out.
"Madame," she said very dryly, "if Monsieur le Docteur Eynhardt feels himself honored by your astounding familiarities that is his affair.