The lovers started in terror. Alice in great confusion extricated herself from Benno's embrace, and the doctor lost all his presence of mind, while the intruder maintained his stand upon the threshold, and in his dismay never thought of stirring. At last the young girl fled into the next room to Molly, while Benno, with a frown, approached his unbidden guest: "This is an unexpected visit, Herr Gronau, a surprise indeed."
His tone was unusually sharp, but Gronau did not seem to notice it. He entered the room, and, with an air of extreme satisfaction, said, "This is quite another affair,--quite another affair."
"What of it?" Benno exclaimed, impatiently; but Veit tapped him cordially on the shoulder:
"Why did you not tell me this? Now I understand why you would not accuse Nordheim. You were quite right, quite right."
"Nor will I suffer any one else to do so," Reinsfeld declared, his irritation only aggravated by Gronau's genial tone. "I deny any one's right to meddle in my affairs; understand me, Herr Gronau."
"I have no idea of doing anything of the kind," said Gronau, quietly. "'Tis well that I have said nothing to Herr Waltenberg as yet. Of course the matter must be kept quiet among ourselves. You have been far wiser than I, Herr Doctor. How could you bear my scolding so patiently? I never gave you credit for such cleverness."
"Can you suppose me capable of sordid calculation?" Benno exclaimed, angrily. "I love Alice Nordheim."
"So I saw just now," Veit observed, "And she seemed very willing. Bravo! Now we shall go to work with the Herr President very differently. We shall say not a word about the stolen invention, but shall simply ask for his daughter's hand, and his millions will naturally follow it. 'Tis a fact, Benno, that you have shown a vast amount of cleverness. Your arrangement of the matter would satisfy even your father in his grave."
"That is your view," Benno declared, sadly. "Alice's and mine is very different. What you saw was only a farewell forever."
At this intelligence, Veit looked as if he had suddenly received a box on the ear.