“Yes; I will tell you.” As he spoke there came through the wood the sound of an approaching presence. Both looked quickly round, and D’Alquen caught up his gun. It was, however, no wild animal this time, but a man, Osbert Von Tressen.
He greeted them in surprise. “Fräulein Harlberg! Herr D’Alquen!” he exclaimed.
There was genuine relief on the girl’s face, a lowering annoyance on her companion’s, who, however, met the situation unhesitatingly.
“You are well met, Herr Lieutenant,” he cried with a half sneer. “But you would have come too late. You are surprised at finding us here together. The explanation lies there.”
With a slightly theatrical action he pointed to the boar. “I have had the honour of relieving the honoured Fräulein from the too pressing attentions of that fellow,” he continued, in reply to Von Tressen’s exclamation of surprise. “Half an hour ago three were better company than two; that exigency is past, and now two are preferable to three. I bid you good-day.”
He raised his hat, made them each a ceremonious bow, turned abruptly, and walked resolutely away. For some moments they both watched him in astonished silence; although his face had betrayed no feeling, his manner of leaving them was altogether strange; very soon the depth of the wood hid him from sight, and they could look round inquiringly at each other.
“I am so glad you came,” Philippa said.
“I came?” Von Tressen returned a little ruefully. “No; he. He saved you from that ugly brute.”
She nodded. “Yes; he saved my life. And frightened me horribly afterwards.”
“He did? Yes, I can understand it. He is a queer fellow.”