"Absolutely certain. I have to take all the letters to the messenger; there was not one to the young lady among them."
"That is certainly a bad sign," said the priest in a low tone, "very bad."
"It's witchcraft, abominable witchcraft!" George wrathfully exclaimed. "The blow will kill his mother when she discovers it. Castle Steinach will be completely upset, and Moosbach Farm too, and the whole Tyrol to boot--a reverend ecclesiastic must interfere, nothing else will do, only priests can oppose witchcraft."
Father Leonhard did not heed the last words, the news evidently affected him most painfully, and it was after a long pause that he said:
"Have you ever given the Lieutenant a hint that you knew the affair?"
"I tried it once," said George, mournfully. "But I got no further than the name Danira. Then he started up and looked at me with a pair of eyes--I didn't suppose Herr Gerald could glare so--I didn't attempt it a second time."
"Then I'll try whether he will talk with me. Meantime, keep silence about it in future to every one."
Here the conversation was interrupted; they heard outside words of command and the regular tramp of soldiers marching.
"There they are!" cried George, starting up. "Excuse me, your reverence, I must see whether they have brought Jovica; the Lieutenant took charge of her when I was obliged to leave."
"Who is Jovica?" asked the priest, but he received no answer, the young soldier had already darted out of the door, and Father Leonhard went to the window.