Geraldine gave a little gasp of astonishment, and the color faded from Mrs. Douaine’s face.
“Why were you glad she had not come?” Gretel’s sister-in-law asked, sharply. “Why were you so thankful?”
Fräulein did not answer; she only moaned, and wrung her hands dramatically.
“I loved the child,” she wailed; “you may not believe me, but it is true, I loved her dearly. I could not bear that any harm should come to her through my fault.”
“And why did you fear that harm might have come to the girl through your fault?”
It was not Mrs. Douaine who asked the question. In their excitement, none of them had heard approaching footsteps, and now Mrs. Douaine and Geraldine turned with a start, and discovered Gretel’s brother and another man standing in the doorway. It was Mr. Douaine’s companion who had spoken. He was a quietly dressed man, with a strong, clever face, and Geraldine noticed with surprise that he spoke with a slightly foreign accent. As for Fräulein, at sight of the two gentlemen, she uttered a little frightened scream, and collapsed in a heap on the sofa.
The stranger waited a moment, and then repeated his question.
“And why did you fear that harm might come to the girl through your fault?”
“Who—who is he?” inquired Fräulein, in a tremulous whisper.
“I don’t know,” said Mrs. Douaine. “The other gentleman is my husband. This is Gretel’s friend, Percy, Fräulein Sieling; you remember her.”