Here Starsky interrupted her by asking somewhat roughly-- "If you're only gathering herbs, why can't you look people full in the face? Why do you breathe so hard--eh, Jew?" And stooping from the saddle, he seized him firmly by the shoulder. The man wrenched himself free, and in so doing his hat fell off, letting them see his noble, thoughtful face. "Leave me alone!" he cried, threateningly. Graefin Jadwiga hastily thrust her horse between the angry men. She was deadly pale, her breath came quick and fast, and her colorless lips trembled as if she were trying in vain to speak. Her eyes never left the Jew's face. He meanwhile had recovered his self-possession, and although pale, looked calm and collected. "Who are you?... Is it _really_ you?... Who are you?" she exclaimed, now in a voice sharpened by anxiety, and again as though in joy.... "My name is David Blum," he answered, in a low toneless voice. "People call me Bocher David. I am a Jewish teacher and sick-nurse in your town...." She reeled in her saddle and hid her face in her hands. "My God!" she moaned, "is it a bad dream?... It is you, Friedrich!... Your voice!... Your face!... Why are you here, and in that dress?... Can I be going mad?... Friedrich, it _must_ be you ... Friedrich Reimann!..." She dismounted, and going to him, took his hands in hers. Starsky felt his head going round as he watched the scene. Bocher David had a hard struggle. He turned to go away; then he tried to speak, but could not. At length he managed to force out the words in a low, strained voice: "Friedrich Reimann is dead--has been dead for years. I am David Blum, the sick-nurse." She drew a long breath. "I understand you," she said; "Friedrich is dead, but David Blum is alive. And I must say to him what I can no longer say to Friedrich.... I have sought you long, long and earnestly. I have found you at last. You must not go until you have listened to me...." "It would be useless, Frau Graefin," he answered, gently but firmly. "Friedrich forgave you long ago--forgave you with all his heart...." There was a look of pain on his face as he spoke. "But it isn't useless," she exclaimed, "or at least not to me. I entreat you to listen to me only once--for one hour. Come and see me this afternoon at the castle...." He shook his head with a sad smile. "Don't say no," she continued. "You are a Jew, and it was a Jew who said, 'Be merciful to the weak!' It is for mercy that I beg.... Oh, come!... For God's sake come, and for the sake of old times!..." "I promise," he said, after a short pause. Then silently raising his hat he went away. Graefin Jadwiga drew a long breath of relief, passed her hand across her eyes as if she were waking from a dream, and then turned to Starsky, who was approaching her with an expression of unmitigated astonishment. They remounted their horses, and returned to Barnow Castle in silence. On getting there they parted without a word.