Should she make him a sign, and throw down a note which later he could pick up unobserved? She went into her rooms and scribbled in pencil the following lines. "Everything is discovered. Fraeulein von S---- promises to say nothing provided you----" Here she paused. This would never do. The stupidest fool who chanced to get hold of the note could only interpret it in one way, _i.e_., as a confession of guilt. "I'll speak to him instead," she decided, as the bell sounded for supper. How curiously the Schwertfeger eyes regarded her, just as if they could read at the bottom of her soul what her bold intention was. But no reference whatever was made to the miscreant, and when they rose from the table she put her arm into Lilly's arm, just as she did when she wanted to keep Lilly from visiting her Polish friends. "She won't let go the whole evening," thought Lilly, gnashing her teeth inwardly. At that moment someone came to say Kaete was much worse, and should they send for the doctor? Fraeulein von Schwertfeger left the room reluctantly, saying as she went, "I shall be back before long." In the flash of a moment Lilly had opened the verandah door and was slipping down the terrace steps into the dusky park. The intense silence was only broken by a faint splashing from behind the cypresses, where old Haberland was filling his cans, as he had not finished watering the rose-trees. She walked straight towards the gable end of the lodge, wondering how she should attract his attention and bring him to the window. She was spared the trouble, however, for he was lying full length on the green bench outside the house, puffing serenely at the end of a cigarette. The red dog, whose chain he had twisted round his wrist, was asleep at his feet. None of his colleagues were to be seen. She could scarcely breathe, her heart beat so violently. "Herr von Prell!" He started up, the dog with him. "Herr von Prell, I've something to say to you." He grabbed at his head to take off the cap which wasn't there. "At your service, gracious baroness." "Will you come and take a little stroll with me?" "If the gracious baroness wishes, certainly." He threw away the end of his cigarette, cast a rapid look round for his missing cap, and then walked beside her, bareheaded, as stiff and correct in his bearing as an automaton. Lilly led the way into the middle of the park, where groups of trees and grassy clearings melted into purple-fringed darkness. She had recovered her calmness. The desire to save him endowed her with a strength of will of which she had never dreamed herself capable. "You must not misunderstand what I am doing," she began. "Oh, of course not, gracious baroness," he answered with a polite bow. "It is such a charming evening, and old acquaintances enjoy a chat."