Neither had Van Lieverlee recognized her, but was simply struck with her peculiar, somewhat alien manner, which led him to ask the lady of the house if she knew the origin of the girl.
"No," said the countess; "she was recommended to me by an old friend, and apparently she deserves all that was said of her."
But Johannes' yearning for Markus grew stronger every day. He both dreaded and longed for his coming, and he wished that in some way he might be delivered from his uncertainty.
Therefore he was ever on the alert to seize an opportunity for speaking with Marjon alone. One evening he detained her in the hall under the pretense of inquiring about his shoes.
"Where did you leave Keesje?" he asked in a low voice.
"You know very well," replied Marjon, curtly, and in the same low tone.
Johannes did indeed know, and for that very reason he had asked the question.
"Yes, but where is he who has Keesje?"
"I do not know; and even if I did, I would not tell you. He knows his time."