He is far too nice
to her for her to be his legitime."
"That may be. At all events he has had so much consideration for
outward appearance as to pass the person off as his wife. But we
made our acquaintance here, under their very eye."
"Wilhelm!"--from her lips the name sounded more like Gwillem--"I
should not know you for the same person. Why, where is your boasted
philosophy and stoicism to which you were going to convert me? Is
that your indifference to the world and its hypocritical ways, its
prejudices and its sneers?"
She was quite right. He was untrue to his principles, but he could
not do otherwise. He had had the courage to decline the duel with
Herr von Pechlar, but he had not the boldness to let the foolish
gossips of the table d'hote be witnesses of his new love-making.
Why? For the very simple reason that, in his heart of hearts, he
disapproved of his liaison with Pilar.
As he would not give in, the countess resigned herself to what she
called his "schoolgirl crotchet," and they traveled together to St.
Valery-en-Caux, another little seaside place several hours' journey
from Ault.
Here they took rooms together at a hotel, and wrote themselves down
as man and wife. The countess' letters were forwarded by the
postmistress at Ault under cover to Anne.
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