"Then I'll say good-bye for the present. I mustn't stay longer or Dr. Hegelmann will call me over the coals. I have to remember that you're not altogether strong again yet. So I'll say good-bye now and call again to-morrow morning."
"Good-bye."
"Do you like lilies? I must send you some. As I passed a florist's in the Wilhelmstrasse I saw some splendid tiger-lilies. Good-bye, my dear."
Elaine waited with feverish impatience for three minutes to elapse, when she judged Olive would be clear of the house. Then she rang a bell by her side. She must get a message through to Rivière to let him know of the new development in the situation before Olive could reach him with her story. Rivière knew nothing beforehand of Elaine's plan of self-accusation; it was vital that he should know of it now, when it had been carried to so effective an end.
The nurse came to answer the call.
"I want to telephone," said Elaine in her halting German.
"But the telephone is downstairs!"
"You must lead me there, nurse."
"No; I cannot do that. It is against orders. The doctor has forbidden you to leave this room, Fraülein."
"I must! I tell you I must! It's——It's—oh, what is the German for 'vital?'"