“No, but a visit which will not prove agreeable, I am afraid.”
“A visit at this time of the day! Who is it?”
“A person who says he is a relation of the family, and refuses to give any name but that of Rudolf.”
She knit her eyebrows.
“Good heavens! Unfortunate man! Here again!”
I explained to her how he had forced his way in at the window, and offered to make him retrace his steps if she desired it.
“No, there must be no disturbance,” she said, in a state of agitation. “My grandfather must not even suspect he is here. I will go with you, Leopold; this once you must excuse me if I do anything you consider in bad form. How dare he show his face here? I can do nothing more for him. You will stand by me, won’t you?”
I took her hand and led her to my room. Rudolf lay on the sofa, fast asleep. When he saw Francis standing before him, he jumped up as if to embrace her, but she drew back. He did not seem hurt, but he lost his tone of assurance.
“I understand, Francis, that my return is not a joyful surprise to you.”
“You have broken your promise. You gave me your word of honour you would stay in America. At any rate, you ought never to have set foot in your native country again——”