"It hasn't begun yet," she said, ringing the bell. Denning answered it. "Send Joles please," she said.
Denning bowed and a little later Joles appeared.
"Herr Von Barwig, my music master, will be here at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon. You will please admit him at once."
"Yes, madam," and Joles bowed his head rather lower than usual.
Von Barwig took leave of his pupil, appearing not to notice her outstretched hand, but merely bowing to her as he said good-bye. Joles opened the front door for him and Von Barwig looked at him pityingly. His triumph over the servant was so complete that he felt sorry for him.
"Perhaps you did not mean to keep back the letters," said Von Barwig to him in a low, sympathetic voice.
Joles looked at him in blank astonishment.
"You have perhaps a family to support," went on Von Barwig. "I will ask Mr. Stanton to forgive you."
"Sir!" said Mr. Joles, with some slight show of indignation, "I do not understand you."
Von Barwig looked at the man a moment, and seeing that it was useless to discuss the matter with him he walked slowly down the stone steps, wondering what it all meant.