Fate, however, was kinder to him than he had dared to hope. As Natalie was returning home, he ventured to draw a little nearer to her, but still with the greatest caution, for he would have been overcome with shame if she had detected him dogging her footsteps in this aimless, if innocent manner. And now that she had got close to her own door, he had drawn nearer still--on the other side of the street; he so longed to catch one more glimpse of the dark eyes smiling, and the mobile, proud mouth. But just as the door was being opened from within, a man who had evidently been watching his chance thrust himself before the two women, barring their way, and proceeded to address Natalie in a vehement, gesticulating fashion, with much clinching of his fists and throwing out of his arms. Anneli had shrunk back a step, for the man was uncouth and unkempt; but the young mistress stood erect and firm, confronting the beggar, or madman, or whoever he was, without the slightest sign of fear. This was enough for George Brand. He was not thrusting himself unfairly on her seclusion if he interposed to protect her from menace. Instantly he crossed the road. "Who are you? What do you want?" This was what he said; but what he did was to drive the man back a couple of yards. A hand was laid on his arm quickly. "He is in trouble," Natalie said, calmly. "He wants to see papa; he has come a long way; he does not understand that papa is in America. If you could only convince him--But you do not talk Russian." "I can talk English," said Brand, regarding the maniac-looking person before him with angry brows. "Will you go indoors, Miss Lind, and leave him to me. I will talk an English to him that he will understand." "Is that the way you answer an appeal for help?" said she, with gentle reproof. "The man is in trouble. If I persuade him to go with you, will you take him to papa's chambers? Either Beratinsky or Heinrich Reitzei will be there." "Reitzei is there." "He will hear what this man has to say. Will you be so kind?" "I will do anything to rid you of this fellow, who looks more like a madman than a beggar." She stepped forward and spoke to the man again--her voice sounded gentle and persuasive to Brand, in this tongue which he could not understand. When she had finished, the uncouth person in the tattered garments dropped on both knees on the pavement, and took her hand in his, and kissed it in passionate gratitude. Then he rose, and stood with his cap in his hand. "He will go with you. I am so sorry to trouble you, Mr. Brand; and I have not even said, 'How do you do?'" To hear this beautiful voice after so long a silence--to find those calm, dark, friendly eyes regarding him--bewildered him, or gave him courage, he knew not which. He said to her, with a quick flush on his forehead, "May I come back to tell you how I succeed?" She only hesitated for a second. "If you have time. If you care to take the trouble."