"Good evening, Madame!" Verisschenzko said suavely. "May I not have the pleasure of a turn with you; it is delightful to meet you again."
Harietta slipped her hand out of Hans' arm and stood still, determined to secure Stépan at once since the chance had come.
Verisschenzko divined her intention and continued, his voice serious with its mock respect:
"I wonder if I could persuade you to come with me and find your husband. You know the house and I do not. I have something I want to talk to him about if you won't think me a great bore taking you from your partner," and he bowed politely to Hans.
Harietta introduced them casually, and then said archly:
"I am sure you will excuse me, Captain von Pickelheim. And don't forget you have the first one-step after supper!" So Hans was dismissed with a ravishing smile.
Verisschenzko had watched the German covertly and saw that with all his forced stolidity an angry gleam had come into his eyes.
"They have certainly met before—and he knows me—I must somehow make time," then, aloud:
"You are looking a dream of beauty to-night, Harietta," he told her as they walked across the hall. "Is there not some quiet corner in the garden where we can be alone for a few minutes. You drive me mad."
Harietta loved to hear this, and in triumph she raised her head and drew him into one of the sitting-rooms, and so out of the open windows on into the darkness beyond the limitations of the lawn.