Wallmoden sat at his writing table, reading hastily the dispatches and letters which had arrived during the day. One or two seemed to contain matter of importance, for he did not place them with the pile which were to be answered or destroyed early in the morning, but took up his pen and made a check across them in red ink; then he arose and crossed the room to his wife.
“This comes unexpectedly,” he said. “I’ll have to go to Berlin at once.”
Adelheid turned round surprised.
“This is very sudden.”
“Yes, I had hoped to settle the matter by letter, but the minister desires a personal conference. I must take my leave of the duke early in the morning, and set off at once. I’ll be away about eight days, I presume.”
In the shadow of the curtain Adelheid’s face could not be seen clearly, but one could fancy a sigh of relief escaped her, as if her heart was to be lightened of a burden.
“At what hour do we start?” she asked quickly. “I must give my maid her orders at once.”
“We? It’s a purely business affair, and I am going alone.”
“But that won’t prevent my accompanying you!”
“There would be no object in that. I’ll only be away a week or two.”
“But I—I’d like to see Berlin again.”
“What a whim!” her husband answered, shrugging his shoulders. “I’ll have so many claims upon my time that I could not have you with me.”
The young wife had stepped to the table, and stood in the glare of the lamp. She was very pale now, and her voice had a pleading sound as she said:
“Very well, then, I will go home. But it is not possible for me to remain at Fuerstenstein alone, without you.”
“Alone!” The ambassador gave her a puzzled look. “You remain with our kinsfolk whose guests we are. Since when have you become so anxious for protection? That is a peculiarity which I had never observed in you until now. I don’t understand you, Adelheid; it’s a most singular caprice which you have taken into your head, this desire to accompany me.”
“Well, call it a caprice. But let me go with you, Herbert—please let me go.”
She laid her hand beseechingly on his arm, and her eyes had an intense and anxious expression, as she looked at her husband. There was a superior, almost sneering smile on his lips, as he answered her:
“Now I understand it. The scene with the princess was so unpleasant to you that you dread other skirmishes of a like nature. You must steel yourself against such sensitiveness, my child; you should see that for this very reason, it is imperative for you to remain. At court every word, every glance signifies, and your sudden departure might give rise to any kind of a report. You must hold your ground from the very start at court, or you will find your difficulties increase rather than diminish.”
The wife’s hand dropped slowly from her husband’s arm, and her eyes sank to the ground, as he refused the first request she had preferred since their married life of only a few short months.