“Pshaw! nonsense! When Hildegarde is there, there can be no impropriety for us!” and as she spoke she drew the only half-reluctant Crescenz after her down the passage.
“Are not the large rooms at the end his?” asked Madame Berger.
“Yes; but indeed it is not right to interrupt them; I am sure mamma will be angry.”
“Tell her I insisted on seeing Theodor,” replied Madame Berger, as she knocked loudly at the door, but received no permission to enter.
“I told you they were too busy to receive visitors,” said Crescenz.
“What an odd noise they make!” cried Madame Berger, listening at the door before she again knocked, “what a very odd noise!” Her curiosity was excited, and without waiting for an answer to her second summons, she opened the door and discovered Hamilton and his German master completely equipped with foils and visors, fencing most energetically. Chairs and tables were heaped up in a corner, and so well matched and eager were the combatants that they long remained unconscious of the presence of spectators.
“A new way to learn German!” said Madame Berger to Hildegarde, who was sitting at the window reading.
“Our lesson is long ended,” she replied, closing her book.
“Then pray why did you not come to the drawing-room?” asked Madame Berger.
“Because it is quieter here,” replied Hildegarde.