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264 "Meanwhile the pot in which my meal is cooking would boil over, and the food is good." Guste crept up softly from behind, pressed her hands over his eyes, and asked: "Who is that?"—"There she is," replied Buck, giving her a slap.

"You gentlemen are having an interesting talk, I suppose? Shall I leave you?" asked Guste. Diederich hastened to get her a chair, but in reality he would have preferred to be alone with Buck. The feverish brightness of Guste's eyes were not promising. She talked more freely than usual.

"You get on wonderfully together, if you were only not so formal."

"That is mutual respect," said Buck. Diederich was taken aback, and then he made a remark which astonished himself. "The fact is, every time I leave your fiancé I am mad with him, but when we next meet I am glad." He drew himself up. "If I were not already a loyal citizen he would make me one."

"And if I were," said Buck, smiling, "he would cure me of it. That is the charm of it."

But Guste had obviously other cares. She was pale and choking.

"Now I'll tell you something, Wolfgang. Will you bet you can't stand?"

"Mr. Rose, some of your Hennessy!" shouted Buck. While he mixed cognac and champagne, Diederich seized Guste's arm, and as the noise of the dance music grew very loud just then, he whispered entreatingly: "Don't do anything foolish." She laughed evasively. "Dr. Hessling is afraid! He thinks it's a vulgar story, but I find it terribly funny." She laughed loudly. "What do you think? They say your father and my mother &hellip; you understand, and consequently we are to &hellip; you know!"

Buck moved his head slowly, and then his lips curled. "Well, what about it?" Guste stopped laughing.

"How do you mean? What then?"