Therese bowed slightly and let her gaze rest on him for a while with a little embarrassment as though she were scrutinising a beautiful beast, then she turned to Else: "If I had known that you had such a lot of visitors." "Do you know what she looks like?" said Stanzides softly to George. "Like a Russian student, don't you think?" George nodded. "That's about it. I know her. She is a school-friend of Fräulein Else's, and now she's playing a leading part among the Socialists. Just think of it! she's just been in prison for _lèse-majesté_, I believe." "Yes, I think I've read something about it," replied Demeter. "One should really get to know a person of that type more intimately. She's pretty. Her face might be made of ivory." "And her features show a lot of energy," added George. "Her brother too is an extraordinary fellow, a pianist and a mathematician, and the father's supposed to be a ruined Jewish skin-dealer." "It's really a strange race," observed Demeter. In the meanwhile Frau Ehrenberg had come up to Therese. She considered it correct not to show any surprise. "Sit down, Therese," she said. "And how have you been getting on all this time? Since you've devoted yourself to political life you don't bother about your old friends any more." "Yes, I'm afraid my work gives me very little time to pay private visits," replied Therese, thrusting out her chin, in a way that made her face look masculine and almost ugly. Frau Ehrenberg vacillated as to whether she should or should not make any reference to the term of imprisonment which Therese had just served. It was certainly to be borne in mind there was scarcely another house in Vienna where ladies who had been locked up a short time ago, were allowed to call. "And how is your brother?" asked Else. "He's doing his service this year," answered Therese. "You can imagine pretty well how he's getting on." And she looked ironically at Demeter's hussar uniform. "I suppose he doesn't get much opportunity there for playing the piano," said Frau Ehrenberg. "Oh, he's given up all thoughts of being a pianist," replied Therese. "He's all for politics now." And turning with a smile to Demeter she added: "Of course you won't give him away, Herr Oberlieutenant?" Stanzides laughed somewhat awkwardly. "What do you mean by politics?" asked Herr Ehrenberg. "Does he want to get into the Cabinet?" "Not in Austria at any rate," replied Therese. "He is a Zionist, you know." "What?" exclaimed Ehrenberg, and his visage beamed. "That's certainly a subject on which we don't quite agree," added Therese. "My dear Therese ..." began Ehrenberg. "You'll miss your train, my dear," interrupted his wife.