All right, Major. Major. Where is that fellow stopping with my cap? (_Enter_ Wilhelm.) Where were you hiding, man? (Wilhelm _hands him the cap_.) And he is tottering on his old legs! What are you tottering so for? Wilhelm. Indeed I am not tottering, Major. Major. Well, come on, Stephan! (_Exeunt_ Major, Stephan, _through the garden door_.) _FOURTH SCENE_. AGNES. WILHELM. _Afterward_ LIEUTENANT VON HALLERPFORT. Wilhelm (_softly_). Fräulein, just now as I went out, Lieutenant von Hallerpfort was standing there and wished to speak with Fräulein, privately. Neither the master nor the mistress is to know anything of it ... God, Fräulein is deadly pale! Agnes. Ask the lieutenant to come in, and keep a lookout, if my aunt comes. (Wilhelm _opens the door on the right, and disappears through the door on the left hand_.) Agnes. (_Meeting the lieutenant as he enters_.) Herr von Hallerpfort, what has happened to Fritz? Hallerpfort. Nothing, Fräulein, not the least thing.... I am surprised that he is not yet here. Agnes (_rising joyfully_). Ah! (_With a sigh of relief_.) Ha! Hallerpfort. I beg pardon a thousand times if I startled you. Agnes. Will you please take a seat. Hallerpfort. Thank you, most humbly! (_They are seated_.) Your uncle and aunt, I hope, will not---- Agnes. Uncle has just gone to the stables, and aunt's coming will be announced to us. Hallerpfort. How is your aunt? Agnes. Oh, I thank you, much as usual.--Herr von Hallerpfort, be frank with me: What is this all about? Hallerpfort. Oh, absolutely nothing of any consequence. A little surprise--nothing further--nothing further! Agnes. To be sure, if he is really on his way here--didn't you ride here together? Hallerpfort. No, I came by the way of the levee, and thought to overtake him. He will have ridden by the highway. Agnes. Then what is the object of this secrecy? Hallerpfort. That will soon be cleared up, Fräulein.... At this moment, in Fritz's interest, I have to ask a great favour of you.... It is now (_takes out his watch_) three forty-five o'clock. At four o'clock let us say five minutes after four--even if we take into account some unforeseen delay--yes--he must be here.... How long does it take to go to the village to Braun's inn? Agnes.