She understood and rose. She came towards him, took his two hands in hers, and pressing them said:
"Do you really believe that I ought to remain in this country?"
"I believe so, Your Highness."
"When shall I be able to go away?"
"I don't know. Certainly not now. Perhaps after a long time."
She bowed her head and added nothing further.
"Thanks, mein Herr, good-bye till to-morrow."
"Till to-morrow, Your Highness."
Without undue hurry, correctly but silently, he led her within the apartment and let the servant accompany her below to the carriage, to which were attached two spirited, dapple-grey horses. The Grand Duchess of Gotha wrapped her marten mantle better around her, pressed to her neck the fur tippet, closed her mouth firmly behind the close veil, drew over her knees the soft carriage-rug, and alone and silently, looking at no one, wrapped in herself, but preserving a regal air, she vanished to the rapid trotting of her horses towards St. Moritz and Campfer, where she dwelt in the solitary Villa Sorretta.
Afterwards the servant ushered in to the doctor on the terrace two other patients, the brothers Freytag, the great bankers of Vienna, who only came once or twice a week, the sons and nephews of the great Freytags, bankers of Frankfort, Hamburg, and London, bankers and shippers as well.