‘Yes. To-morrow morning. I would it were to-night. And then—’ he stopped and passed his hand wearily across his forehead, letting it drop nerveless by his side almost immediately.
‘And then?’
‘Then I must see Hilda before I go.’ His eyelids quivered, and his lips shut themselves closely.
‘Yes,’ answered the baroness in a tone of hesitation.
‘Yes, I must see Hilda,’ Greif repeated. ‘And when I am gone—then—then—’
This time Frau von Sigmundskron said nothing, for she saw that he was suffering, though she dared not guess what was passing in his mind. He seemed to be trying to speak.
‘When I am gone—’ he began, but the words died on his lips. ‘Do not talk of this now, dear Greif.’
He roused himself and sat straight in his chair. There was something of his father’s look in his face, and his companion noticed that his fingers were strained as he grasped the carved wood in the effort to steady himself.
‘I must say it now,’ he answered firmly. ‘To-morrow I shall not be able to talk much, and it may happen that we shall never have another opportunity.’
‘Never?’