15.--Otto V. Herisau, Rentier,
East Prussia."
It was quite dark when the carriage returned. I watched the
company into the supper-room, and then, whisking in behind them,
secured a place at the nearest table. I had an hour of quiet,
stealthy observation before my Coburg friend discovered me, and by
that time I was glad of his company and had need of his confidence.
But, before making use of him in the second capacity, I desired to
make the acquaintance of the adjoining partie carree. He had
bowed to them familiarly in passing, and when the old gentleman
said, "Will you not join us, Herr ----?" I answered my friend's
interrogative glance with a decided affirmative, and we moved to
the other table.
My seat was beside the Baron von Herisau, with whom I exchanged the
usual commonplaces after an introduction. His manner was cold and
taciturn, I thought, and there was something forced in the smile
which accompanied his replies to the remarks of the coarse old
lady, who continually referred to the "Herr Baron" as authority
upon every possible subject.
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