"What a perfectly charming woman!" exclaimed the justice, when their hostess had vanished from the room.
"I wonder what would happen," observed the doctor, with a malicious grin, "if the vice-palatine's wife should hear of that kiss? Would n't there be a row, though!"
The heroic descendant of the Scythians at these words became seriously alarmed.
"The Herr Doctor, I trust, will be honorable enough not to gossip about it," he said meekly.
"Oh, you may rest without fear, so far as I am concerned; but I would n't say as much for the surveyor, here. If ever he should succeed in getting beyond 'I say,' I won't answer for the safety of your secret, Herr Vice-palatine! When your wife hears, moreover, that it is 'Bernat' and 'Katinka' up here, it will require something besides an anecdote to parry what will follow!"
CHAPTER II
When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance. She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat. The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay. But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
"Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
The vice-palatine, remembering his spouse, sought to modify the familiarity.