The servant went out again, while Botho repeated: "Franke ... Gideon Franke ... Never heard of him. I don't know him."
In a moment the visitor entered the room and bowed somewhat stiffly at the door. He wore a dark-brown coat closely buttoned up, highly polished boots and shiny black hair, which lay very thick on both temples. He wore black gloves and a spotlessly white high collar.
Botho met him with his usual courteous amiability and said: "Herr Franke?"
The latter nodded.
"How can I serve you? Let me beg you to be seated.... Here ... or perhaps here. Stuffed chairs are always uncomfortable."
Franke smiled in assent and took a cane-seated chair, which Rienäcker had indicated.
"How can I serve you?" repeated Rienäcker.
"I have come to ask you a question, Herr Baron."
"It will give me pleasure to answer it, provided that I am able."
"No one could answer me better than you, Herr von Rienäcker ... I have come, in fact, about Lena Nimptsch ..."