The amber merchant departed on the following morning; then Blanden was particularly struck with the man's rugged, furrowed features; his whole demeanour told of a ruined, wasted life. When he had received the heavy price for his goods, and had the door-latch in his hand, he turned suddenly round once more, and while closely contracting his bushy eyebrows, and darting evil-boding flashes from his glowing eyes, he asked-- "You can probably tell me, Herr von Blanden, where the Signora now lives whom you once visited on Lago Maggiore?" "Why do you ask this question?" "I have a reason for interesting myself in that lady." "She does not owe you anything? Certainly in those days you did not deal in amber?" "My interest in her is of another kind, and in addition my secret." "But how do you know--" "I stood on the shore of the Lago as you and she stepped out of the gondola; I stood at the gate of the garden whence you issued at an early morning hour." "Ah! now I recollect--you followed me even, so that I might have taken you for a hired bravo." "You would have been mistaken. I am an honest man." "But the right to ask questions lies with me. You know that lady, who is she?" "If she chooses to envelop herself in mystery, I am the last who should like to betray it." "You are a political agent?" "Perhaps! At all events I am very anxious to speak to her, and I have reason to suppose that you know where she may be found." "Then you are mistaken." "People say they saw her here in Prussia." "That is quite possible; but--I do not know where she is staying." The conversation on both sides was conducted curtly and antagonistically. As the amber merchant turned to go, Blanden called after him. "You are in possession of a secret; chance made you acquainted with that nocturnal meeting." "Chance?" said the amber merchant, turning round, "chance? Do you know if it was chance?" His countenance looked menacing, he clenched his hand as if convulsively. "It is all the same," said Blanden, shortly, "I shall expect you to be silent about it." "Who would trouble themselves about an adventure on Lago Maggiore?" said the amber merchant, with a scoffing smile. "And yet--I know someone for whom this adventure has its price. However, we have just had a deal together, and I am amiable towards my customers, I shall betray you to no one. Farewell!" Blanden felt as though relieved from some weight when the strangely disagreeable guest had left room and house. Although this man's face bore traces of wild good-looks, yet the decay of his features, their malign, sly expression, had something repellant about them.