But you--I suppose you are an author ?" "No, madame; I study natural science." "A professor then ?" "No, only an amateur." "Ah! And you are French ?" "I am German." "Impossible!" exclaimed the lady.
"Why impossible ?" asked Wilhelm, smiling.
"You have no accent, and you look--" "You probably think that every German has light blue eyes, flaxen hair, and a long pipe ?" "That is certainly pretty much how we picture Germans to ourselves in Spain." It was his turn to be surprised.

"You a Spaniard ?" "And how had you pictured a Spanish lady?
Of course with jet black eyes and hair, and a mantilla ?" Wilhelm nodded.
"There are fair Spaniards, however, as you see.

In fact, it is very common in our best families--an inheritance perhaps from our Gothic ancestors." "I suppose, like all Latins, you despise the Germans ?" "I beg, monsieur, that you will not class me with the mass.

I wish to be regarded as an individual.

Whatever the prejudices of the Latins may be, I have my own opinion.