“Has this perhaps been dropped by either the Herr First Lieutenant or the gracious lady?”
And as Minna had again retired, the officer first gazed at the paper with eyes wide open, then he gave a scornful laugh and held it open to his wife.
“Here, my dear, will you not convince yourself? There it is in black and white.”
Frau Weil hesitatingly took the slip of paper from his hands and read:
“Am expecting you to-day at 4.30, since I shall be engaged to-morrow in the service.”
Signature and address were wanting, but the writing was unmistakably Kolberg’s.
“Here it is,” said Weil. “That is her way of thanking us for offering her our hospitality,—just lying to us, and trying to befool us for no other purpose than to permit her to continue her disgraceful conduct. Didn’t I at once say it would be better not to have her come? But you, of course, insisted on inviting her. If you had listened to me, we should now be spared the disagreeable necessity of throwing that woman out.”
“But for heaven’s sake, Max, that you can’t do. Throw the note into the fire!”
“I’ll do nothing of the kind,” her husband flared up. “I shall certainly throw her out of the house! Or do you suppose I’m going to make our home a convenient shelter for depraved women? Let her see where she will find another refuge. As for me, I respectfully decline the honor of harboring her any longer as our guest; and this note will not go into the fire, but, instead, where it belongs,—before a Council of Honor!”
The young officer was in a great state of excitement. With rapid strides he measured the room, burying his hands in his pockets. His dark look betrayed indignation and resolve.