He believes it still, which is somewhat
startling. There are a few such dullards yet. "I do not see why she
should," he went on gravely. He was standing by the empty fire-place, a
manly, upright figure; one who was not very clever, not brilliant at
all, somewhat slow in his speech, but sure, deadly sure, in the honesty
of his purpose.
Karl Steinmetz looked at him and smiled openly, with the quaint air of
resignation that was his.
"You have never seen her, eh?" enquired Paul.
Steinmetz paused, then he told a lie, a good one, well told,
deliberately.
"No."
"We are going to the opera, Box F2. If you come in I shall have pleasure
in introducing you. The sooner you know each other the better. I am sure
you will approve."
"I think you ought to marry money."
"Why?"
Steinmetz laughed.
"Oh," he answered, "because every-body does who can. There is Catrina
Lanovitch, an estate as big as yours, adjoining yours. A great Russian
family, a good girl who--is willing."
Paul laughed, a good wholesome laugh.
"You are inclined to exaggerate my manifold and obvious qualifications,"
he said. "Catrina is a very nice girl, but I do not think she would
marry me even if I asked her."
"Which you do not intend to do."
"Certainly not."
"Then you will make an enemy of her," said Steinmetz quietly. "It may be
inconvenient, but that cannot be helped.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78