The afternoon dragged on interminably till it merged into the evening. Once again a meal was brought to her. This time she questioned the maid. "Why do you not speak to me, Lenke?" The woman glanced fearfully at her. "Mistress, I have been forbidden to speak to you or to answer any questions." Elizabeth gazed with scorn at the trembling servant. "Are you afraid of the--the--animals?" Lenke whimpered slightly. "Mistress, they--they threaten to--to kill me unless I obey their commands." Elizabeth laughed. "And you believe they would dare to do so?" "Mistress, they would dare. They--they are beasts!" Her voice sank to a whisper. "Mistress, I heard a cry just before noon like a man who--who had been mortally injured. The voice was like that of Ernest, the butler. Mistress, mistress--" Lenke fell on her knees, and catching hold of Elizabeth's dress buried her face in its folds, and sobbed--"Ernest--has--disappeared. In his room were only--bloodstains." "Oh, Lenke!" Elizabeth whispered to herself, and her face went suddenly white. It did not seem possible; Ernest to disappear so! She tried to convince herself that the maid was lying, but if Elizabeth needed any confirmation of the truth it was in Lenke's attitude. If that had happened, without any knowledge of it having reached her until now, what other awful deeds might already have taken place? Her father... Frantically she bent down and clutched Lenke by the shoulders till the servant moaned with pain. "Lenke--Lenke--my father--your master, is he safe?" Lenke gazed with horror at her mistress, then she broke free from Elizabeth's grasp, ran across the room to the door, and disappeared outside. The key turned. Elizabeth was once again alone. The terror depicted in the maid's face--her significant dismay at the question--her orders to answer no questions--seized with consternation Elizabeth sank into a chair as she felt her limbs trembling. Question after question raced through her mind, queries which could not be answered. As though an icy blast were blowing through her room she shivered with a cold fear. The unconquerable spirit which did not wilt beneath the horror of the day was stricken down at the thought of her father. Where was he now, what had happened to him? Feverishly she crossed to the door and hammered upon it till her hands turned red. For a long time there was no movement, but presently she heard a shuffle along the passage outside. The door opened, a Red guard stood there. "My father, where is he? Quick, for the love of mercy tell me!" she pleaded. The Red guard scowled at her. "Is that all you want?" "Yes, yes. Tell me, please, I cannot bear the anxiety." He did not reply. Instead he seized his rifle, and placing the butt to her waist pushed with all his might. Elizabeth went hurtling across the room, to fall with a crash against the wall. The man laughed brutally and slammed the door.