Max," his wife asked, with some show of
curiosity. "Where else could she be?"

"With Kolberg, of course."

"But how can you say so, Max? I don't suppose she...."

"Certainly she will! That is just what she is doing."

Both became silent when the servant girl stepped in. She placed the
teapot on the table, and then took a folded piece of paper from her
pocket, and handed it to Weil with a peculiar smile.

"Has this perhaps been dropped by either the Herr First Lieutenant or
the gracious lady?"

And as Minna had again retired, the officer first gazed at the paper
with eyes wide open, then he gave a scornful laugh and held it open to
his wife.

"Here, my dear, will you not convince yourself? There it is in black
and white."

Frau Weil hesitatingly took the slip of paper from his hands and read:

"Am expecting you to-day at 4.30, since I shall be engaged
to-morrow in the service."

Signature and address were wanting, but the writing was unmistakably
Kolberg's.

"Here it is," said Weil. "That is her way of thanking us for offering
her our hospitality,--just lying to us, and trying to befool us for no
other purpose than to permit her to continue her disgraceful conduct.
Didn't I at once say it would be better not to have her come? But you,
of course, insisted on inviting her. If you had listened to me, we
should now be spared the disagreeable necessity of throwing that
woman out."

"But for heaven's sake, Max, that you can't do. Throw the note into
the fire!"

"I'll do nothing of the kind," her husband flared up. "I shall
certainly throw her out of the house! Or do you suppose I'm going to
make our home a convenient shelter for depraved women? Let her see
where she will find another refuge. As for me, I respectfully decline
the honor of harboring her any longer as our guest; and this note will
not go into the fire, but, instead, where it belongs,--before a
Council of Honor!"

The young officer was in a great state of excitement. With rapid
strides he measured the room, burying his hands in his pockets. His
dark look betrayed indignation and resolve.

"If you will take my advice," his soft-hearted spouse said, with some
trepidation, "you will put that bit of paper into the stove and keep
quiet about the whole matter. She is to join her husband in another
two days, anyway, and then there would be an end to her intrigues in
any case. Do me the favor, my dear Max, and leave your fingers out of
that