He reflected. After all, her idea was not such a bad one. If she really had made up her mind fully to leave her husband, she might as well go with him; for in that case he would at least have somebody by his side to whom he could speak, to whom he could open his heart,--somebody who would be in the same situation as himself. And when Frau Leimann once more implored him with a tearful voice, he whispered: “Then come with me. We shall leave to-morrow night.” They began to make plans, and he said: “Let us talk this matter over sensibly. First, how will you get away from here without being observed by your husband?” “He is leaving for Berlin to-morrow morning. He has official matters to attend to there. Has he not yet told you about it?” “No; but this is excellent. And now, have you some money?” “Yes; I received this morning three hundred marks from my mother, and I have not touched the money because I had resolved on this step.” “Then you are better off than I am, at least for the moment; but I shall raise some money. And third, how will you get your luggage to the station? for, of course, I cannot expect you to run away without some clothes.” “Very simply, George; just ask my husband to lend you his big trunk, and tell him you are obliged to go home on a short leave. I will pack all my things into that, and the orderly will bring it down to you here. The trunk is big enough to hold enough for us both.” “There it is again,” laughingly said Borgert. “Women are best for all underhanded work.” “And by which train shall we leave?” “You will go by the afternoon train, for we will not leave together; that would attract too much attention. I shall follow you on the evening train. I think it will be best to meet in Frankfort. We will meet in the waiting-room of the main station, and there we can talk over everything in quiet. I shall take a three days’ leave, so that they will not follow me at once.” “Then we are agreed so far. I will come down here to-morrow forenoon, as soon as my husband has left, and then we can talk this matter over a little more in detail. Just now I’ll have to leave you.” Frau Leimann turned towards the door. When she sent a parting nod from the threshold, she seemed once more enticing in his eyes. The heated face was animated, and the glowing eyes radiated life. Truly, she was charming. Borgert lost himself in pleasant speculations about the honeyed existence which they two were to lead hereafter, once that inconvenient husband was out of the way, and all scruples which still clung to them, as the last vestiges of respectability, had been thrown overboard.