He began to mumble; and she saw him fall asleep, sitting erect, with his hands on the ivory knob of his stick.
She was frightened and, stealing noiselessly to the door, she opened it and called:
"Anna ... Anna...."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Come here.... Look.... Mr. Takma has fallen asleep.... We'd better stay with him till he wakes up, hadn't we?"
"Oh, the poor soul!" said the maid, compassionately.
"He isn't...?" asked Ottilie, in the voice of a frightened child.
But Anna shook her head reassuringly. The old man slept on, stiff and straight in his chair, with his hands resting on his stick.
The two women sat down and watched.