‘Is Fraülein gone?’ Frau Luise asked me, raising her yellow eyebrows right up to her false front. I stared at her like a fool, and went away. XVII I made my way out of the town and struck out straight into the open country. I was devoured by anger, frenzied anger. I hurled reproaches at myself. How was it I had not seen the reason that had forced Acia to change the place of our meeting; how was it I did not appreciate what it must have cost her to go to that old woman; how was it I had not kept her? Alone with her, in that dim, half-dark room I had had the force, I had had the heart to repulse her, even to reproach her.… Now her image simply pursued me. I begged her forgiveness. The thought of that pale face, those wet and timid eyes, of her loose hair falling on the drooping neck, the light touch of her head against my breast maddened me. ‘Yours’--I heard her whisper. ‘I acted from conscientious motives,’ I assured myself.… Not true! Did I really desire such a termination? Was I capable of parting from her? Could I really do without her? ‘Madman! madman!’ I repeated with exasperation.… Meanwhile night was coming on. I walked with long strides towards the house where Acia lived. XVIII Gagin came out to meet me. ‘Have you seen my sister?’ he shouted to me while I was still some distance off. ‘Why, isn’t she at home?’ I asked. ‘No.’ ‘She hasn’t come back?’ ‘No. I was in fault,’ Gagin went on. ‘I couldn’t restrain myself. Contrary to our agreement, I went to the chapel; she was not there; didn’t she come, then?’ ‘She hasn’t been at the chapel?’ ‘And you haven’t seen her?’ I was obliged to admit I had seen her. ‘Where?’ ‘At Frau Luise’s. I parted from her an hour ago,’ I added. ‘I felt sure she had come home.’ ‘We will wait a little,’ said Gagin. We went into the house and sat down near each other. We were silent. We both felt very uncomfortable. We were continually looking round, staring at the door, listening. At last Gagin got up. ‘Oh, this is beyond anything!’ he cried. ‘My heart’s in my mouth. She’ll be the death of me, by God!… Let’s go and look for her.’ We went out. It was quite dark by now, outside. ‘What did you talk about to her?’ Gagin asked me, as he pulled his hat over his eyes. ‘I only saw her for five minutes,’ I answered. ‘I talked to her as we agreed.’ ‘Do you know what?’ he replied, ‘it’s better for us to separate. In that way we are more likely to come across her before long. In any case come back here within an hour.’ XIX