e and was driven home, where she locked herself in
her room to weep alone.
And Millar, the sinister being, ever at hand with his insidiously evil
suggestions, chuckled as he watched them go. He threw himself into a
chair and rang the bell for Heinrich. The old servant entered
rebelliously, but, trained to habits of obedience, he could not give
expression to his feeling of hatred and distrust of his master's strange
visitor. As for Millar, he even seemed to find something amusing in the
old man's obvious aversion.
"Bring me tea and brandy," he ordered peremptorily.
"Yes, sir."
"Is your master up?"
"Yes, sir."
"Has any one seen him this morning?"
"No, sir. Madam Hofmann's maid was here three times."
"What for?" Millar demanded quickly.
"She wished to know when Madam Hofmann might see Mr. Karl. I told her I
had strict orders not to call him before 3 o'clock."
Millar looked at his watch and saw that it was a few minutes after 3
o'clock.
"Humph! We shall have another visitor shortly," he muttered. "I think I
begin to see the completion of my work. It shall be this afternoon. Get
my tea," he added to Heinrich, "and serve it in the studio."
The old man went out. Millar paced slowly up and down the floor, looking
at his watch, until he heard the door bell ring.
"The beautiful Olga," he said, stepping softly from the reception-room
into the studio and leaving the way clear for Olga.
She was admitted by Heinrich. She hurried into the room, looked wildly
about her and sank into a seat. For a moment she could not speak.
All night and all day, since Millar's shadow hovered above her fainting
form in her own home, she had been torn by the emotions raised by the
letter. It was a confession she had never meant to make. She dreaded the
thought of Karl ever seeing it. Heinrich waited respectfully.
"Is Mr. Karl at home?" she asked.
"Yes, madam."
"My maid told me he could not be seen until 3 o'clock. It is now after
3. May I see him?"
"If you will wait a few minutes longer, madam, I will tell him that you
are here."
Heinrich started toward the studio.
"One moment," Olga called after him. "Has any one seen Mr. Karl to-day?"
"No, madam."
"Has he received no letter?"
"No, madam."
"Thank God!" she exclaimed fervently. "Go, Heinrich; tell him I am in a
great hurry and must see him at once."
"I am afraid, madam, you will have to wait a few minutes for Mr. Karl to
dress," Heinrich said
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