“No,” I said. “I'm going to bed. And you'd better go, too.” “But they'll ring in a minute and be wanting something if I do.” “Let them ring!” And then it was Ragnhild confessed that the Captain himself had asked her to stay up that night in case Fruen should want her. This altered the whole aspect of affairs in a moment. Evidently the Captain had feared something might happen, and set Ragnhild on guard in case. I put on my blouse again and went across with her to the house. We went upstairs and stood in the passage; we could hear them laughing and making a noise in Fruen's room. But Fruen herself spoke as clearly as ever, and was not drunk at all. “Yes, she is,” said Ragnhild, “anyhow, she's not like herself tonight.” I wished I could have seen her for a moment. We went back to the kitchen and sat down. But I was restless all the time; after a little I took down the lamp from the wall and told Ragnhild to follow me. We went upstairs again. “No; go in and ask Fruen to come out here to me,” I said. “Why, whatever for?” “I've a message for her.” And Ragnhild knocked at the door and went in. It was only at the last moment I hit on any message to give. I could simply look her straight in the face and say: “The Captain sent his kind regards.” [Footnote: _Kapteinen bad mig hilse Dem_: literally, “The Captain bade me greet you.” Such a message would not seem quite so uncalled for in Norway, such greetings (_Hilsen_) being given and sent more frequently, and on slighter occasions, than with us.] Would that be enough? I might say more: “The Captain was obliged to drive himself, because Nils couldn't spare any one to go.” But a moment can be long at times, and thought a lightning flash. I found time to reject both these plans and hatch out another before Fruen came. Though I doubt if my last plan was any better. Fruen asked in surprise: “Well, what do you want?” Ragnhild came up, too, and looked at me wonderingly. I turned the lamp towards Fruen's face and said: “I beg pardon for coming up so late. I'll be going to the post first thing tomorrow; I thought if perhaps Fruen had any letters to go?” “Letters? No,” she answered, shaking her head. There was an absent look in her eyes, but she did not look in the least as if she had been drinking. “No, I've no letters,” she said, and moved to go. “Beg pardon, then,” I said. “Was it the Captain told you to go to the post?” she asked. “No, I was just going for myself.” She turned and went back to her room. Before she was well through the door I heard her say to the others: “A nice pretext, indeed.” Ragnhild and I went down again. I had seen her.