The hands of the parish clock pointed to the Roman figure II., and the chimes rang out on the air; the servants laid the table for dinner, Mrs. Adamecz brought in the soup, and his reverence led his guests into the dining-room, and placed them right and left of Madame Krisbay, when all at once they noticed that Veronica was missing.
"I was just going to ask," said Madame Krisbay, "if she had been with the gentlemen?"
"I thought she was with you," said the priest.
"I have not seen her for two hours."
"Nor I."
"Nor we."
"Perhaps she is in the kitchen?"
Madame Krisbay looked vexed, got up from her seat, and went into the kitchen to call her pupil, but returned at once with the remark that she had not been seen there either.
"Where can she be?" exclaimed the priest, and ran out to look for her, sending the servants to some of her favorite seats in the garden, thinking she might have gone there to read, and have forgotten the time.
Mrs. Adamecz grumbled in the kitchen, for the dinner was spoiling.