e meals, almost all of them embodied some act of denial. Above
the mantel piece hung a little oil painting of a river scene, the sole
thing not strictly of a useful order, for the rest of the contents of
this study were all admirably adapted for working purposes, but were the
reverse of luxurious.

Seated at the writing table was the master of the house, who had
impressed his character plainly enough on his surroundings. He looked
up with an expression of blank astonishment on hearing the name of his
visitor, then the astonishment changed to incredulity; but, when
the weary traveler actually entered the room, he started up with an
exclamation of delight which very speedily gave place to dismay when he
saw how ill his friend was.

"Why, Haeberlein!" he said, grasping his hand, "what has happened to
you?"

"Nothing very remarkable," replied Haeberlein, smiling. "Only a great
wish to see you before I die." Then, seeing that Raeburn's face changed
fearfully at these words, "Yes, it has come to that, my friend. I've a
very short time left, and I wanted to see you; can you tell me of rooms
near here, and of a decent doctor?"

"Of a doctor, yes," said Raeburn, "of one who will save your life, I
hope; and for rooms there are none that I know of except in this house,
where you will of course stay."

"With the little Herzblattchen to nurse me?" said Haeberlein with a sigh
of weary content as he sank back in an arm chair. "That would be a very
perfect ending; but think what the world would say of you if I, who
have lent a hand to so much that you disapprove, died in your house;
inevitably you would be associated with my views and my doings."

"May be!" said Raeburn. "But I hope I may say that I've never refused
to do what was right for fear of unpleasant consequences. No, no, my
friend, you must stay here. A hard life has taught me that, for one in
my position, it is mere waste of time to consider what people will say;
they will say and believe the worst that can be said and believed about
me; and thirty years of this sort of thing has taught me to pay very
little regard to appearances."

As he spoke he took up the end of a speaking tube which communicated
with the green room, Haeberlein watching his movements with the placid,
weary indifference of one who is perfectly convinced that he is in the
right hands. Presently the door opened and Erica came in. Haeberlein
saw now what he had half fancied at Salzburg that, although