The count entered the room, looking grave, though fresh and elegant.
With a graceful bow he held out his hand to the young baron and said in his resonant voice, whilst his eyes beamed with an expression of warm friendship:
"I heard that you were here with Field-Marshal Gablenz, and I hastened to visit you before you perhaps left us again, to express my joy that you have so happily escaped the dangers of war."
"You are very kind, count," replied von Stielow in a slightly constrained tone; "I'm heartily glad to see you again."
The count seemed to expect an invitation to sit down.
Herr von Stielow looked on the ground with some embarrassment.
Then he raised his candid eyes and said:
"Count, you will forgive me if I speak quite openly to you. I beg you urgently, to repeat the honour of your visit at some other time, that I may have the happiness of increasing our acquaintance, which I hope," he added politely, "will become much more intimate; at this moment I must own I am pressingly engaged, and in great anxiety."
"Anxiety?" asked the count, "it is not idle curiosity that urges me to inquire the cause."
"Oh! I hope it is nothing very serious," said von Stielow, "the young Countess Frankenstein--you know I am engaged?"