She flew towards him, holding out both hands, with a beaming smile, which transformed and glorified her youthful face, but she appeared at the same time, by a whispered word to draw his attention to the fact that they were not alone. Eugen looked up and almost started.
"Oh, Hermann, is it you?"
A minute's oppressive pause followed. Gertrud looked surprised and questioningly at Eugen, who, pale and visibly disturbed, held fast her hand without speaking a word.
Count Hermann leaned silently against the table with folded arms, and contemplated the pair steadfastly; the hard hostile look his features sometimes wore, almost alarmingly visible at this moment.
"Pardon me, Gertrud," began Eugen at last, "I expected to find you alone. You know--?"
"No," interrupted she quickly. "I met with this gentleman by chance."
It seemed to cost Eugen a tremendous effort to make known his fiancée to Count Arnau, but he took her hand and led her towards him.
"My--my braut,[[5]] Hermann! Gertrud, my nearest and best friend, Graf Arnau."
Gertrud was on the point of returning Hermann's cold and very measured bow, in the same manner, but at the mention of his name, she gave a sudden start. Her face, so beaming a moment since, became deathly pale, and her widely opened eyes fixed themselves upon the young Count with an expression which startled Eugen, although he could not in the least account for it.
"What is the matter, Gertrud? What is it?"