"Ah, doctor," said Melitta, with well-assumed surprise, "that is nice, that I meet you here. Just think, Bemperlein has written already; Julius is well--but sit down here and I will tell you all at leisure--Julius is perfectly well and has become quite a dandy in the five days he has spent at Grunwald. He has been at a children's ball, has danced a cotillon, just think! a cotillon, and that against the remonstrances of half a dozen young gentlemen." "The poor fellow," laughed Oswald, "he will have to fight half a dozen duels." "May be! But you know Julius is as brave as a lion, and will risk all for the lady of his heart--Ah! Baron Cloten, is that really you? I was told you and Robin had broken your necks at the last fox-hunt?" "_Quelle idée, madame!_--no doubt invention of Barnewitz. Devilish clever fellow, Barnewitz! Beg ten thousand pardons! Am quite well, thanks! Ah, yes--would beg for a dance, if possible, the cotillion. Must try once more, if I cannot persuade you to sell me Brownlock." "_Non, mon cher_; for such a purpose you shall not get the cotillon, nor any other dance. But if you will leave me Brownlock, to enjoy him in peace, you shall have the first waltz. I shall probably not stay for the cotillon. Are you satisfied?" "Ah, madam--satisfied--_quelle idée!_ happy!...." "I pray you, Baron Cloten, calm yourself. Have you a _vis-à-vis_?" "No, not yet. Look for one at once." "Here, ask Doctor Stein--let me introduce----" "Ah! Have had the pleasure," said the dandy, apparently noticing Oswald now for the first time, though he had been standing within a yard of him. "All the better," said Melitta; "that is settled then?" Cloten and Oswald bowed, and then Melitta sent them both away with a graceful wave of the hand. "I wonder," said Langen to Oswald, as he returned to the window, "how you can speak so freely to her; I would not have the courage." "You are jesting." "Upon my word, no! There is something in that woman's look and in her voice which would make me fear for the salvation of my soul. I know I am not alone in that." "Perhaps I am not sufficiently concerned for the salvation of my soul," said Oswald. In the mean time Oldenburg had studiously watched the group of Melitta in a huge mirror, while he appeared to converse with several gentlemen in perfect indifference. "See there, Cloten, how are you, _mon brave_?" he said, suddenly turning to the young man, as he came near him. "Baron Oldenburg! 'pon honor, would not have known you--such a horrible beard!" "Horrible, _mon cher_? Do not make me unhappy; I have cultivated it now for three years, and it has cost me at least a million." "Ah, nonsense," said the dandy, stroking his handsome mustache.