The blunt question drew another laugh out of him. "I need not tell you, for you know. So long as we are certain where to find her---- But Herr Feldermann told you. I have not come on her affairs, however; nor to refer to what happened the other day at the station."
"I am always delighted to see you--provided of course you don’t come to arrest me."
"I trust I shall never have to do that, but you will do well to be cautious in your hospitality."
"Not with you, I hope," I laughed. "At all events unofficially."
"I am here unofficially now, and will go so far as to warn you that an official visit from one of us has been very seriously considered. Berlin, and indeed the whole of Germany, is considered very unhealthy for some foreigners at this season, you know."
"I appreciate your friendship, Dormund; but I shan’t bolt. I shall be found here whenever I’m wanted. I shall stick it out."
"It is more serious than you think perhaps; but it is of course for you to decide. Well, now, I have come to-day to act the part of a mutual friend, Heir Bastable; from Lieutenant von Bernhoff. He feels very deeply the breach that has occurred."
"I think I would rather you did not say any more about that," I broke in.
"Bear with me a moment. He is devotedly attached to your sister and he has a genuine regard for you yourself; he has empowered me to offer you an unqualified apology for what passed when he was last here, and to assure you that you placed quite the wrong interpretation on what he said. He is very unhappy."
"It was very unfortunate," he replied with a gesture of regret. "But remember, please, the feelings of a man who sees himself about to lose what he prizes more than anything else on earth. A man in love, you know!"
"But my sister does not return his regard."
"He wishes only to be allowed to call and make his apologies for himself. I can assure you, of my own knowledge, that his regret is abject."
"There is good ground for it," I said drily. "And his coming here would do no good. I don’t believe he ever had a ghost of a chance of getting my sister to care for him and am dead certain that whatever chance he had was absolutely ruined by his conduct that day."
"Well, may he come? Let me put it as a personal favour to me?"