CHAPTER XXXIX.
After some hours the two friends were alone together in Wallmoden's study. The latter had just made the unavoidable as well as painful disclosure. He had told the Colonel under what circumstances Rojanow was in the city, and had unveiled to him uncompromisingly everything he knew of Hartmut's life and that of his mother, finally informing him of her death.
He had feared this hour, but the result was quite different from what he had expected. Mutely Falkenried leaned against the window with folded arms and listened to the long explanations, without interrupting by a word or gesture. His face remained cold and impassive; no quiver, no motion betrayed that he heard those things which must bring anguish to his heart. He was now also "a man of stone."
"I believed I owed these explanations to you," concluded the Ambassador finally. "If I have kept what I knew of the fate of the two from you so long, it was done solely that you might not be tortured unnecessarily with what was hard enough for you to overcome. But you had to learn now what has happened, and how matters stand at present."
The Colonel retained his position and his voice betrayed no mental excitement as he replied:
"I thank you for your good will, but you could have spared yourself these explanations. What is that adventurer to me?"
Wallmoden looked up amazed; he had not expected such a response.
"I thought it necessary to prepare you for the possibility of meeting him," he returned. "As you have heard, Rojanow now plays an important rôle; he is celebrated everywhere. The Duke is deeply wrapped up in him. You might meet him at the castle."
"And what then? I do not know anybody by the name of Rojanow, and he will not dare to know me. We should pass each other as strangers."
The Ambassador's gaze rested searchingly upon Falkenried's features as if to fathom this real coldness or incomprehensible self-command.