"One knows pretty well what those urgent interviews mean," he thought, twisting his moustache with a smile. After all, any one who was invited to a rendezvous with countesses need not despair. To dodge those who might spy on his movements, he took a longish walk towards evening, from which he tried to return unobserved, for the churchyard was only a few steps distant from the parsonage. On the stroke of six he emerged from the shadow of the church porch, and saw Hertha's figure darkly silhouetted in the late twilight as she sat waiting on a tombstone. His heart beat riotously in delighted anticipation. He approached her with his hat in his hand. "What a fascination and charm there must be about my person," he reflected, "if even this haughty highflyer succumbs to it!" Hertha shot up at sight of him. She wore her old grey cloak, and had drawn the hood over her head and tied it under the chin. She was painfully excited. Her hands clasped the grave railings convulsively. Her eyes flashed in the darkness. "You will think that this is a strange proceeding, Herr Kandidat," she said, in a trembling voice. "Oh no, not at all," he assured her with a gallant bow. "Ordinarily," she went on, "girls like me are not in the habit of appointing to meet people...." She halted. There was something in her tone which made him feel a trifle less triumphant; it was almost as if she would have said, "people of your position." "Wait a bit," he thought; "I'll soon bring her down." "But your stupid conduct to my cousin," she continued, "compels me to speak very seriously to you." Kurt felt very much as if a bucket of cold water had been hurled at him. It was evident what had happened. Elly had told tales, and Hertha, whether jealous or not, had made up her mind to put obstacles in his way. "I beg pardon, countess," he said, raising his hand in dignified protest. "This is a matter of a very private nature. I don't know how far and by what means you have gained the confidence of your cousin Fräulein Elly, and I, for my part, cannot flatter myself that I have your confidence; therefore, if you will allow me----" He raised his hat as a sign that he desired to end the conversation. "Listen to me, if you please, Herr Kandidat," said Hertha, and her eyes flashed wrathfully. "If you adopt this tone towards me, it will be the worse for you." "You talk in riddles," he replied, with a smirk. "I am ready to express myself as plainly as you like," said Hertha. "I have run over here secretly, and at great risk, and you thought of going away and leaving me in the lurch like a naughty schoolboy." In his most cavalier style he begged her pardon, and submitted to hear what was coming. "Why don't you leave my cousin alone?" asked Hertha, measuring him with a scornful eye from head to toe. "I love Fräulein Elly," he replied, "and I will annihilate all who thwart my love." "Don't be so impertinent, Herr Kandidat. No one will believe you."