Rassendyll’s arrival. Helga will never admit that she is clever, yet I find she discovers from me what she wants to know, and I suspect hides successfully the small matters of which she in her wifely discretion deems I had best remain ignorant. Being able thus to manage me, she was equal to coping with the butler. She laid aside her embroidery most composedly. “Ah, yes,” she said, “I know the gentleman. Surely you haven’t left him out in the rain?” She was anxious lest Rudolf’s features should have been exposed too long to the light of the hall-lamps. The butler stammered an apology, explaining his fears for our goods and the impossibility of distinguishing social rank on a dark night. Helga cut him short with an impatient gesture, crying, “How stupid of you!” and herself ran quickly down and opened the door--a little way only, though. The first sight of Mr. Rassendyll confirmed her suspicions; in a moment, she said, she knew his eyes. “It is you, then?” she cried. “And my foolish servant has left you in the rain! Pray come in. Oh, but your horse!” She turned to the penitent butler, who had followed her downstairs. “Take the baron’s horse round to the stables,” she said. “I will send some one at once, my lady.” “No, no, take it yourself--take it at once. I’ll look after the baron.” Reluctantly and ruefully the fat fellow stepped out into the storm. Rudolf drew back and let him pass, then he entered quickly, to find himself alone with Helga in the hall. With a finger on her lips, she led him swiftly into a small sitting-room on the ground floor, which I used as a sort of office or place of business. It looked out on the street, and the rain could be heard driving against the broad panes of the window. Rudolf turned to her with a smile, and, bowing, kissed her hand. “The baron what, my dear countess?” he inquired. “He won’t ask,” said she with a shrug. “Do tell me what brings you here, and what has happened.” He told her very briefly all he knew. She hid bravely her alarm at hearing that I might perhaps meet Rupert at the lodge, and at once listened to what Rudolf wanted of her. “Can I get out of the house, and, if need be, back again unnoticed?” he asked. “The door is locked at night, and only Fritz and the butler have keys.” Mr. Rassendyll’s eye traveled to the window of the room. “I haven’t grown so fat that I can’t get through there,” said he. “So we’d better not trouble the butler. He’d talk, you know.” “I will sit here all night and keep everybody from the room.” “I may come back pursued if I bungle my work and an alarm is raised.” “Your work?” she asked, shrinking back a little. “Yes,” said he. “Don’t ask what it is, Countess. It is in the queen’s service.” “For the queen I will do anything and everything, as Fritz would.” He took her hand and pressed it in a friendly, encouraging way. “Then I may issue my orders?” he asked, smiling. “They shall be obeyed.”