Gaston. Let us have
just one little minute to ourselves, Mr. Schmidt."
It was true that she came upon the Count in one of the paths of the
Kleine Rugen. He was walking slowly toward her, his eyes fixed
thoughtfully upon the ground. When she accosted him, he was plainly
confused, as she had said. After the first few passages in polite
though stilted conversation, his keen, grey eyes resumed their
thoughtful--it was even a calculating look.
"Will you sit here with me for a while, Miss Guile?" he asked gently.
"I have something of the gravest importance to say to you."
She sat beside him on the sequestered bench, and when she arose to
leave him an hour later, her cheek was warm with colour and her eyes
were filled with tenderness toward this grim, staunch old man who was
the friend of _her_ friend. She laid her hand in his and suffered him
to raise it to his lips.
"I hope, my dear young lady," said he with simple directness, "that
you will not regard me as a stupid, interfering old meddler. God is
my witness, I have your best interests at heart.
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