"Go to that wax doll you love, and see whether she will love you, or care whether you leave her or not! Go, go, go! Go to her!" She had sprung far back from him, and now pointed to the door, drawn to her full height and blazing in her wrath.
"I would advise you, madam, to speak with proper respect of any lady with whom you choose to couple my name." His lips opened and shut mechanically, and he trembled from head to foot.
"Respect!" She laughed wildly.

"Respect for a mere child whom you happen to fancy! Respect, indeed, for anything you choose to do! I--I--respect Hedwig von Lira?
Ha! ha!" and she rested her hand on the table behind her, as she laughed.
"Be silent, madam," said Nino, and he moved a step nearer, and stood with folded arms.
"Ah! You would silence me now, would you?
You would rather not hear me speak of your midnight serenades, and your sweet letters dropped from the window of her room at your feet ?" But her rage overturned itself, and with a strange cry she fell into a deep chair, and wept bitterly, burying her face in her two hands.

"Miserable woman that I am!" she sobbed, and her whole lithe body was convulsed.
"You are indeed," said Nino, and he turned once more to go.

But as he turned, the servant threw back the curtain.
"The Signor Conte di Lira," he announced, in distinct tones.

For a moment there was a dead silence, during which, in spite of his astonishment at the sudden appearance of the count, Nino had time to reflect that the baroness had caused him to be watched during the previous night.