"You will see, no good will come of it." François looked into the room. "I beg pardon, but the Count has sent to ask if mademoiselle----"
"I am coming," cried Carla, stretching out her hand for her hat. "You will, will you not, sweet pet?--please fasten the elastic of my hat behind--you will remain! Thanks! Adieu, sweet pet!" She once more embraced her sister-in-law, took her gloves from the chair, and hastened away, her skirt trailing far behind her.
"If it were only not such a bore!" said Frau von Wallbach, sinking back in her chair. When the Count came down, the horses had just been brought round. Herr von Strummin was sitting on a bench which encircled the trunk of a wide-spreading lime-tree, and playing with the point of his riding-whip in the fine gravel.
"You have come at last?" he said, looking up angrily.
"Fräulein von Wallbach wishes to say good-bye again to the ladies," said the Count, seating himself by the side of his friend, "and it is rather a long business. We shall still have some little time to wait."
"So much the better," said Herr von Strummin; "I have not for a long time had the pleasure of speaking to you for a minute alone. So, without any beating about the bush--I am very sorry, but I must have back my five thousand thalers."
"I am very sorry too, my dear Strummin," replied the Count, laughing, "because I cannot repay them."
"Cannot repay me!" exclaimed Herr von Strummin, as the colour grew still deeper in his red face. "But you told me that I could count upon it at any time."
"Because I naturally supposed that you would not choose just the most unsuitable time. You know that I must pay off that mortgage to-morrow."
"Why did you give notice to pay it off? It was most imprudent. I told you so from the first."