The book fell from her hand. Don Alvarez sank into the night of oblivion from which he had sprung.
"What are you doing here, you burglars?" asked Leo in a laughing tone.
He was answered by silence.
"And how did you get in? Come, confess, Elly. The door was locked. How did you get in?"
Hertha felt an internal swooning; but defiance choked in her throat.
"You needn't rate Elly like that," she said, getting up; "as the door was locked, we naturally got through the window. There is nothing to be surprised at in that."
"Indeed?" he said. "Nothing to be surprised at! And what brings you here?"
"That we don't intend to tell," Hertha answered; "it is our concern alone."
"Now, we shall see about that," he said. "I am not going to argue with you, my dear Hertha; you are beyond discipline. But you, Elly, come here a minute."
And Elly, who had quite lost her presence of mind, regardless of a sign that Hertha made to her, divulged in stupid fear everything she should have kept to herself.