When life returned in the room he had left, the first words audible were the baroness's whisper to her daughter, "Lenore, you have forgotten yourself."
"Do not blame her," said the baron, aloud, with great presence of mind; "the daughter only did what the father should have done. The young man has behaved admirably, and we can not but esteem him."
A murmur, however, began to arise from different groups. "Quite a dramatic scene," said the lady of the house; "but who then said—"
"Ay, who was it that said," interposed Von Tönnchen. All eyes turned to Fink.
"It was you, Herr von Fink, who—" Frau von Baldereck majestically began.
"I, my dear lady!" said Fink, with the composure of a just man unjustly accused. "What have I to do with the report? I have always contradicted it as much as possible."
"Yes," said several voices; "but then you used to hint—"
"And you certainly did say—" interpolated Frau von Baldereck.
"What?" coldly inquired the imperturbable Fink.
"That this Mr. Wohlfart was mysteriously connected with the Czar."