“A nobleman,” said Innstetten with emphasis.

“Isn’t he one?  You yourself called him a cavalier, a perfect cavalier, in fact.”

“Yes,” continued Innstetten, his tone growing more friendly, though it still betrayed a slight shade of sarcasm.  “A cavalier he is, and a perfect cavalier, that is beyond dispute.  But nobleman?  My dear Effi, a nobleman has a different look.  Have you ever noticed anything noble about him?  Not I.”

Effi stared at the ground and kept silent.

“It seems we are of the same opinion.  But, as you said, I myself am to blame.  I don’t care to speak of a faux pas; it is not the right word in this connection.  I assume the blame, and it shall not occur again, if I can prevent it.  But you will be on your guard, too, if you heed my advice.  He is coarse and has designs of his own on young women.  I knew him of old.”

“I shall remember what you say.  But just one thing—­I believe you misunderstand him.”

“I do not misunderstand him.”

“Or me,” she said, with all the force at her command, and attempted to meet his gaze.

“Nor you either, my dear Effi.  You are a charming little woman, but persistence is not exactly your specialty.”

He arose to go.  When he had got as far as the door Frederick entered to deliver a note from Gieshuebler, addressed, of course, to her Ladyship.

Effi took it.  “A secret correspondence with Gieshuebler,” she said.  “Material for another fit of jealousy on the part of my austere Lord.  Or isn’t it?”

“No, not quite, my dear Effi.  I am so foolish as to make a distinction between Crampas and Gieshuebler.  They are not the same number of carats fine, so to speak.  You know, the value of gold is estimated by carats, in certain circumstances that of men also.  And I must add that I personally have a considerably higher regard for Gieshuebler’s white jabot, in spite of the fact that jabots are no longer worn, than I have for Crampas’s red sapper whiskers.  But I doubt if that is feminine taste.”

“You think we are weaker than we are.”

“A consolation of extraordinarily little practical application.  But enough of that.  Read your note.”

Effi read:  “May I inquire about the health of my gracious Lady?  I know only that you luckily escaped the quicksand.  But there was still plenty of danger lurking along the road through the woods.  Dr. Hannemann has just returned and reassures me concerning Mirambo, saying that yesterday he considered the case more serious than he cared to let us know, but not so today.  It was a charming sleigh-ride.—­In three days we shall celebrate New Year’s eve.  We shall have to forego a festivity like last year’s, but we shall have a ball, of course, and to see you present would delight the dancers and, by no means least, Yours most respectfully, Alonzo G.”

Effi laughed.  “Well, what do you say?”