Soon after twelve o'clock, when he was at home again, and had had something to eat, and was about to make himself comfortable for a little, the servant announced "that a gentleman ... a man (he hesitated over the word) was outside, and wished to speak with the Herr Baron." "Who is it?" "Gideon Franke ... so he said." "Franke? Strange. I never heard of him. Bring him in." The servant went out again, while Botho repeated: "Franke ... Gideon Franke ... Never heard of him. I don't know him." In a moment the visitor entered the room and bowed somewhat stiffly at the door. He wore a dark-brown coat closely buttoned up, highly polished boots and shiny black hair, which lay very thick on both temples. He wore black gloves and a spotlessly white high collar. Botho met him with his usual courteous amiability and said: "Herr Franke?" The latter nodded. "How can I serve you? Let me beg you to be seated.... Here ... or perhaps here. Stuffed chairs are always uncomfortable." Franke smiled in assent and took a cane-seated chair, which Rienaecker had indicated. "How can I serve you?" repeated Rienaecker. "I have come to ask you a question, Herr Baron." "It will give me pleasure to answer it, provided that I am able." "No one could answer me better than you, Herr von Rienaecker ... I have come, in fact, about Lena Nimptsch ..." Botho started back a little. "And I want to add at once," Franke went on, "that it is nothing troublesome that has brought me here. What I wish to say, or if you will permit me, Herr Baron, to ask, will cause no inconvenience to you or to your family. I already know that your gracious lady, the Frau Baroness is away, and I carefully waited until you should be alone, or, if I may say so, until you should be a grass widower." Botho's discriminating ear perceived that, in spite of his rather ordinary middle-class clothes, the man was frank and high-minded. This soon helped him to get over his embarrassment and he had recovered his usual calmness of manner, as he asked, across the table: "Are you a relative of Lena's? Pardon me, Herr Franke, for calling my old friend by the old name of which I am so fond." Franke bowed and replied: "No, Herr Baron, no relative; I have not that right to speak. But my right is perhaps quite as good: I have known Lena for a year and more and I intend to marry her. She has given her consent, but on that occasion she told me of her previous life and spoke of you so affectionately, that I at once determined to ask you yourself, Herr Baron, freely and openly, what you can tell me about Lena. When I told Lena of my intention, she at first encouraged me gladly, but immediately afterwards she added, that I might as well not ask you, as you would be sure to speak too well of her."