d Max.

Castleman and his wife looked displeased and Twonette's face wore an
expression of amused surprise.

After a constrained pause Frau Katherine said:--

"Our guests are not in the habit of kissing us."

"No one has kissed you, tante," retorted Yolanda, "nor do they intend to
do so. Do not fear. I--I brought it on myself, and if I do not complain,
you may bear up under it."

"It certainly is unusual to--" began the frau.

"Tante," cried Yolanda, flushing angrily and stamping her foot. Tante
was silent.

"Your words night before last brought marvellous comfort to us,
Fraeulein," said Max. "Where were you, and how--"

"My words? Night before last?" asked Yolanda, in open-eyed wonder, "I
have not seen you since three weeks ago."

"You called to me in my prison in the tower," said Max. "You called to
me by the name you sometimes use."

"Ah, that is wonderful," exclaimed Yolanda. "I wakened myself night
before last calling your name, and telling you not to fear. I was
dreaming that you were in danger, but I also dreamed that you would soon
be free. Can it be possible that the voice of a dreamer can travel to a
distance and penetrate stone walls? You almost make me fear myself by
telling me that you heard my call."

Like most persons, Max loved the mysterious, so he at once became
greatly interested. He would have discussed the subject further had not
Yolanda turned to me, saying:--

"Ah, I have not greeted Sir Karl."

She gave me her hand, and I would have knelt had she not prevented me by
a surprised arching of her eyebrows. My attempt to salute her on my knee
was involuntary, but when I saw the warning expression in her eyes, I
quickly recovered myself. I bowed and she withdrew her hand.

"Let us go to the garden," she suggested.

The others left the room, but Yolanda held back and detained me by a
gesture.

"You would have knelt to me," she said almost angrily.

"Yes, mademoiselle," I replied, "the movement was involuntary."

"I once warned you, Sir Karl, not to try to learn anything concerning
me. I told you that useless knowledge was dangerous. You have been
guessing, and probably are very far wrong in your conclusion. But
whatever your surmises are, don't let me know them. Above all, say
nothing to Sir Max; I warn you! Unless you would see no more of me, bear
this warning in mind. Yolanda is a burgher girl. Treat her accordingly,
and impress the fact on Sir Max. Were I as great as the ill-te