For that matter money was never considered at the Castle, the sums were always big there. What did a dinner like this cost, for instance? But now according to all accounts the bottom had been reached, even of their hostess's famous jewel-case, and so the son-in-law's money would have to refill the coffers. "What's he worth, do you suppose?" "Oh tut! there's no counting it." Johannes got up again and went out into the garden. The lilacs were in bloom, a fragrant wave of auricula, narcissus, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley swept round him. He found a corner by the wall and sat down on a stone; a shrub hid him from all eyes. He was worn out by emotion, thoroughly fagged, and his wits were clouded; he thought of getting up and going home, but sat on in dull apathy. Then he heard a murmur on the pathway, some one was coming; he recognized Victoria's voice. He held his breath and waited a moment; then he caught a glimpse of the Lieutenant's uniform through the leaves. The engaged couple were walking together. "It doesn't seem to me," he was saying, "that this will hold water. You listen to what he says, you hang on to every word of his speech and then shout out. What does it all mean?" She stopped and stood before him at her full height. "Do you want to know?" she asked. "Yes." She was silent. "It's all the same to me if it meant nothing," he went on. "Then you needn't tell me." She collapsed again. "No, it didn't mean anything," she answered. They began to walk again. The Lieutenant shrugged his epaulettes nervously and said aloud: "He'd better look out, or he might feel an officer's hand about his ears." They went in the direction of the summer-house.