"It may pass for this time; the next time you commit such a blunder, you are dismissed without appeal--mind that." He locked his letter into his drawer.
"I will dress without assistance; see that the carriage is ready in ten minutes." He went into the next room through which Bertalda had previously taken flight. François shook his fist behind him, and then again smiled his fawning smile, as if he would not admit even to himself that he had ventured to threaten the mighty man.
CHAPTER XI.
"You will see, Carla, he will not come to-day either," said Frau von Wallbach, trying to find if possible a more comfortable position in her arm-chair.
"Je le plains, je le blâme, mais----" Carla, who was sitting at the piano, played a scale very softly with her right hand.
"And Fräulein von Strummin has also gone away without paying us a farewell visit."
"Silly little thing," said Carla, repeating her scale.
"And Elsa has never once been here to apologise for the omission."
"So much the worse for her," said Carla.
"I wash my hands of the blame," said Frau von Wallbach, slowly rising and going into the reception-room which some of the dinner guests were entering. Carla was also getting up, but remained sitting when she heard that it was a lady, and moreover one of little importance. She let her hands fall into her lap, and looked thoughtfully down before her.