His suspicions, ever alert, had gone to sleep now that he knew his young wife secure under the Argus eyes of his old and tried housekeeper.
He was no longer that greedy lover, simulating youthfulness, who had spied upon her every look and emotion, jealous of his mastery. The humourous condescension with which he watched the doings of the lovely gentle child gave him a natural semblance of fatherliness, which became him well.
His visits to the club house in the garrison town nearby, at first only occasional, had begun to grow more frequent. Sometimes he even departed from his custom of leaving after supper, and took the afternoon train.
But whatever time he left, he never returned before two o"clock in the morning, since there was no train to bring him back earlier.
During breakfast he good-humouredly explained to the ladies that he would have to go to town that day to unload the barley crop on the Jews.
An idea occurred to Lilly which filled her soul with sacred joy. The colonel"s absence must be employed for rescuing Von Prell. How, she did not yet know, but save him she must. She was the only one to do it. If she did not concern herself in his behalf, who else was there in the wide world to tow his drifting vessel to security?
After the colonel had left the room, she plucked up the courage to put in a plea with Miss von Schwertfeger, who, however, refused to relent.
"On the next occasion he will do even worse things," she said. "Then the shame both for him and for us will be still greater."
"No, he won"t do anything worse," Lilly averred. "He will get better.
You need only take him to task."
"I"m old enough to," replied Miss von Schwertfeger, with a bitter-sweet smile, "and I possess the authority. But, to be quite frank, the subject is rather a delicate one, and I should like nevermore to have a thing to do with such sordid affairs."
The extinct eyes, over which the lids lay like heavy blankets, fell into a fixed stare, which Lilly had frequently noticed. It seemed to bring to the top an old, dark, bitter hatred which had long lain buried. Then Miss von Schwertfeger herself returned to the subject.
"All I can agree to," she said, "is, that if he comes to me of his own will and begs my pardon, maybe I will yield. That"s all I can do without incurring the blame of being underhanded."
"Why, he doesn"t even suspect he"s been discovered."
"I should like to wager," rejoined Miss von Schwertfeger, "that Katie will use her first free moment to run over to him."
"And if she doesn"t?" cried Lilly, scarcely mastering her anxiety.
Miss von Schwertfeger took her head between her hands.
"If I did not know, dearie, what a sweet, harmless young creature you are, I should say your interest in the little rake is most curious. Now, you needn"t blush. I know there"s nothing back of it. At all events, I will wait until to-morrow, because you plead for him, my love."
Thus the conversation ended. Nothing more was to be expected of Miss von Schwertfeger.
"If I don"t save him, he will be driven away, and if he"s driven away, he"ll go to rack and ruin, and if he goes to rack and ruin, I shall be to blame."
In this fashion Lilly"s thoughts kept revolving dizzily in her brain.
The simplest thing would be to come to an understanding with Katie, but that was unbefitting Lilly"s station. Besides, it had not occurred to the poor girl, who crept about apathetically, to run over to see Von Prell. Later in the day, in fact, she got an attack of cramps and had to be put to bed.
At four o"clock the colonel drove off to the station. He had stuck a package of blue banknotes into his bill-folder; which was an unfailing sign that he would not return before early morning.
Evening came. The lowing of the cattle and the cracking of whips proclaimed the end of the day"s work.
Lilly crouched behind the vine on her balcony, and listened to what was going on at the lodge. Finally the scapegrace appeared at his dormer window dragging his little dog by a chain. He was wearing the sort of greenish grey jacket with innumerable pockets that managers of estates affect; and each pocket was stuffed full, giving his figure a warty appearance. Nevertheless he was a dear, bright little fellow, well worth the saving.
If she were to signal to him and throw down a piece of paper, would it be possible for him to pick it up later without being seen?
She went into her room and scrawled a few lines in pencil.
"Everything has been discovered. Miss von Schwertfeger promises to keep silent provided you--"
She stopped short. Should the note fall into strange hands the stupidest mortal would construe them into a confession of guilt.
"I will speak to him," she decided.
The supper bell rang.
How strangely Miss von Schwertfeger regarded her, as if she had gotten a glimpse into the depths of Lilly"s soul and discovered her bold design.
But she did not refer to the malefactor again.
On rising from the table she put her arm through Lilly"s, after her wont when she intended to bar the way to Lilly"s Polish friends.
"She won"t let go the whole evening," thought Lilly, raging inwardly.
In a short while, however, word was brought that Katie had grown sicker, and it might be necessary to send for the physician.
"I"ll be back directly," said Miss von Schwertfeger, as she left the room giving Lilly a look expressive of stubborn resistance.
In an instant Lilly had slipped out of the door and was running down the terrace steps leading to the park.
Profound silence reigned. The only sound was of a splashing which came from behind a cypress tree where old Haberland, still occupied with watering the roses, was filling his cans.
Lilly made straight for the lodge considering ways of making him look from his window and see her.
She was saved from committing this indiscretion.
He was lying at full length on the green bench outside the house, smoking a cigarette with evident gusto, the dog"s chain wrapped about his left wrist, and the dog himself asleep at his feet. None of the other men were about.
Her heart"s throbbing almost deprived her of breath.
"Mr. von Prell!"
He jumped to his feet, the dog along with him.
"Mr. von Prell, I should like to speak with you."
He put his hand to his head to remove his cap, but no cap was there.
"I am at my lady"s service."
"Will you accompany me a little way?"
"At my lady"s service."
He threw away the stump of his cigarette, glanced about hastily for his vanished cap, then walked at her side bare-headed, stiff as a puppet in his extravagant respect.