She nodded, her eyes strained in the direction of the sound.
We stood listening intently.
"They have come back in search of me," she whispered.
"Then we shall find out who they are. Courage."
I glanced round the room and motioned to her to hide behind the curtains which covered the deep window recess, and stood there with her.
Two or three minutes of tense silence followed. Then we heard footsteps stealthily approaching the room. A pause, and then three men entered. One a grey-haired, distinguished-looking man well on in years; the other two younger and of a commoner type, swarthy, determined-looking men.
From where they stood they could not see the body of the Jew, and judging by their start at finding the room empty, I judged that they had expected to see Ziegler at his desk.
Their words confirmed this.
"Not here, the old fox," growled one.
"Come away. Come away," said the elder man, laying his hand nervously on the arm of one of the others.