unmitigated shame. What are we to do?"

"And you," said Fraeulein Saloma turning to Eleanore, "you who are bound
to that gifted monster by ties the precise nature of which we are in no
position to judge, you are to show us a way out of this labyrinth of our
affliction."

"If I only knew what you are talking about," said Eleanore, a great
burden falling from her heart as she realised that her initial fears
were groundless. "By the monster you evidently mean Daniel Nothafft.
What crime has he committed?"

Fraeulein Saloma was indignant at the flippancy of her manner. She rose
to her full stature, and said with punitive lips: "He has made our maid
an ordinary prostitute, and the consequences are no longer to be
concealed. Do you know what we are talking about now?"

Eleanore uttered a faint "Oh!" and blushed to the roots of her hair. In
her embarrassment she opened her mouth to laugh, but she came very near
to crying.

Her saddened feelings slowly crept back to Daniel, and as the picture of
him rose before her mind's eye, she turned from it in disgust. But she
did not wish to allow this picture to remain in her memory: it was too
flabby, petty, and selfish. Before she knew what she was doing, she, as
a woman, had pardoned him. Then she shuddered, opened wide her eyes,
and resumed her accustomed cheerfulness. She was again in complete
control of herself.

The court had in the meanwhile examined the silent woman with stern
scrutiny: "Where is Daniel Nothafft at present?" asked Fraeulein Saloma.

"I do not know," replied Eleanore, "he hasn't written for over three
weeks."

"We must request you to inform him at once of the condition of the
prostitute, for so long as such a person is in our house, we cannot
sleep at night nor rest by day."

"I am sorry that you take the matter so to heart," said Eleanore, "and
it is a rather disagreeable affair. But I have no right to mix myself up
in it, nor have I the least desire to do so."

The three sisters received this statement with despair; they wrung their
hands. They would rather die, they said, than meet this voluptuary face
to face again; they would endure all manner of martyrdom before they
would have him come in. All three spoke at once; they threatened
Eleanore; they implored her. Jasmina told with bated breath how Meta had
come to them and confessed the whole business. Albertina swore that
there was not another living soul on earth who could help them out of
this s