"It is for me to say thank you, my Lady. Your story was most interesting, and you told it capitally."
He touched those slim fingers with his lips as Alexandra left him. She hurried up to Hildegard, who had remained standing, gazing with great wondering eyes at the group by the fireside, and putting her arm through that of her hostess and drawing her away with her, the Russian lady whispered--
"You are absolutely mistaken, or else the man is the greatest actor I ever saw."
Bertram had bent over the fire; with his left hand he was half unconsciously stirring up the dying embers in the grate, his right hand was laid on the rose he wore, which he wore above a heart now quivering in spasmodic agony, and he painfully whispered to himself--
"Ashes to ashes!"
His hand, nerveless, glided down.
"No," he murmured, "no, not yet; I will hear it from herself."
XVI.
The company was breaking up now. The gentlemen from the Oberförsterei were anxious to avail themselves of the momentary cessation of the rain for their homeward drive; the Princess, pleading fatigue, had retired, and Hildegard speedily gave the signal for retreat to the others.
"We shall have a trying day to-morrow," she said, "we all need rest beforehand. And this remark is specially meant for you young ladies; I really must request you not to lark and laugh, as is usual with you, till a late hour!"