"Ah! These are the verses which were read at your party! Who wrote them?"
"A very clever man, a friend of my husband's. His name's Nyström."
"Hm! How queer that his name should be quite unknown! Such a clever man! But why wasn't he at your party?"
"Unfortunately he was ill, my dear; so he couldn't come."
"I see! But, my dear Eugenia, isn't it awfully sad about your brother-in-law? I hear he's so very badly off."
"Don't mention him! He's a disgrace and a grief to the whole family! It's terrible!"
"Yes; it was quite unpleasant when everybody asked about him at your party. I was so sorry for you, dear...."
This is for the oak sideboard, dating from the time of Charles XII, and the Japanese vases, thought the controller's wife.
"For me! Oh, please don't! You mean for my husband?" interrupted Mrs. Falk.
"Surely, that's the same thing!"