“I have been waiting for an opportunity to see you all day. I have something important which I must tell you privately.” And she glanced at Herr Moritz.
He made a movement towards the door, but the Count stopped him.
“Wait! Do not go just yet.” And he led his daughter aside into a corner of the room.
“Now, be quick! What is it?” he asked, expecting to hear merely of some personal trouble of the capricious beauty. She quickly undeceived him.
“You have heard of that girl whom the King has been noticing lately—the forester’s daughter?”
“Yes; what of her?”
“Did you know that she was in the Castle?”
“No! Here! Good heavens!”
“Yes. She came last night. The Princess Hermengarde has taken her into her service—as a reader, she pretends.”
The old Count stared helplessly at his daughter.