"Once the yellow journals take us up, then the counts of the Guard are on the spot, and then, may the Lord have mercy on us! They're much better-looking and more chivalrous than you; and if we _must_ become _cocottes_, we'd like at least to know for whom and for what. And if you affect indifference, then you're nothing in our opinion but a bad joke of yesterday." Lilly's breath was taken away. She had not thought it possible that anyone should dare to speak to Richard in such a tone. She laid her hand on his shoulder deprecatingly to pacify him. She feared he might become angry and enforce his rights as master of the place. The very contrary occurred. "I will gladly do what you say," he replied, mealy-mouthed, "if only I knew--" "I'll tell you what you don't know. You mustn't lead her around like an animal in a show. Don't expose her to the gaze of all sorts of people. Don't seat her in the front of the box at opera for every rake to stare at." Richard plucked up his spirits for a defence. "Aren't _you_ to be seen everywhere?" "Certainly. Because I myself want to see things. That's the reason I ran away from my horror of a husband. Nevertheless I don't take box seats. And I don't fly around race tracks either. I'm by nature a Bohemian, while Lilly, with her quiet, refined heart, is a bourgeois, and a bourgeois she ought to remain, as if she were your wife by law. But neither of us wants to descend to the demi-monde, I mean what we mean by demi-monde in Germany. In the French sense we've been in it a long time. That's what I have to say to you, my dear sir." Richard arose helplessly, quite red in the face, gnawing ferociously at his moustache. "I've always had nothing but her good at heart," he said. "Beside, it was your wish, too, wasn't it, Lilly?" Lilly could not make denial. She did not want to shame him any further; and she turned aside without replying. "And supposing it was her wish a thousand times!" the little woman rejoined in Lilly's stead. "You should have said to her: 'My dear, you don't understand. Since we are not married'--_nota bene_, that would be the best for both of you--'we must live modestly, otherwise I should do you mortal injury, I should throw you in the mire.'" Lilly felt tears rising to her eyes, as always when the subject of marriage in connection with Richard and herself; arose. Not to show her emotion, she quickly left the room to fetch Richard's overcoat. It was already quarter of six. She accompanied him to the door and kissed him tenderly. He must by no means suppose that he had jarred her or that she bore him a grudge. When she returned to her guest, she took his part eagerly. He was very dear and good. He had saved her from ruin, and certainly meditated no evil. "I'm not here to sow dissension," said the little woman, laughing. She then asked to be allowed to remain a little longer. "My first name is Jula, and please avail yourself of it in the future."