“If I had managed to hit you with the rake, all this scene would have been avoided.” “Perhaps; but do you know that you invited me yourself to come? I did not know where you were until you said, in the most insinuating manner, ‘I am here—give me your hand.’” “So you were the person who scampered up the stairs?” “Yes, and scampered down at the other side, and found another way into the passage.” “Well, I hope I shall not remain long in your debt, that’s all.” “Oh, your anger is over for this time, I hope. Rather let us now swear an eternal friendship. The thing is possible, as we are not rivals.” “Perhaps we may be, though—I rather took a fancy to Hildegarde to-night. Crescenz is almost too childish.” “You are not serious, I hope,” cried Zedwitz, with what Hamilton imagined an affectation of alarm. “I really don’t know whether I am or not. I am only trying to get up a sort of flirtation to make the time pass agreeably while I am studying German; for that purpose, in fact, one sister is as good as the other; indeed, Crescenz suits me, perhaps, better, because the affair will have a respectable termination when she marries Major Stultz.” “Is she to marry Major Stultz?” “So Hildegarde has not even told you that?” “Not a word.” “Well, let us open the window and smoke a couple of cigars in the moonlight, and you shall hear all about it, and have a full and true account of the boxing-match between Hildegarde and the gallant Major.” --------------------- CHAPTER VII. AN EXCURSION AND RETURN TO THE SECULARISED CLOISTERS.