And the moral ?

CHRISTENSEN

Why, in this bad world innocent people
often have to suffer, you know. That is the
moral. Do you happen to know Mrs. North ?

RIES

Mrs. . . . Mrs. . . .s. .s. .s. .? No !

CHRISTENSEN

Ah ! think again ! The pretty young
widow — the Englishwoman with the pale
mother. What.? You really can't remem-
ber her.J^ And yet I used to see you play
duets with her !

RIES

Oh ! that woman ! of course I know her. I
couldn't remember the name, and couldn't
quite understand how you came to speak of
her just now. Why did you ?

CHRISTENSEN

A little while ago she fell into some money
difEculties — such as may happen to the best of



98

us. She is rather gay, you know — lives in
great style — and at that time she did me the
honour to pay me a visit. You were not at
home just then.
RIES

I ? I never had anything to do with Mrs.
North's money-matters.
CHRISTENSEN

I only wished to pay you a compliment.
Your gallantry to ladies is so widely recognised,
you know, that, had you been in the town, of
course she would have come to you — with
whom she used to play duets — not to me.
That was all I meant. What did you
think I meant }

RIES

Mean what you like! What have Mrs.
North's money-matters to do with me ?

CHRISTENSEN

She is going abroad !

RIES

Indeed !

CHRISTENSEN

She 's coming here to say good-bye.
99

RIES

[Springs up.] Coming here ?

CHRISTENSEN

Yes. She used to come here often enough
... at one time. When you used to play
duets together.
