Later we went through the ward together. There were, as he had said, about thirty patients. He looked at them all and asked the nurses a good many questions, not only about their. patients but their duties.
We inspected the kitchens and the sleeping quarters. They were very similar to those at Kaiserwald. The long dormitory was divided into cubicles; it was all very neat and clean.
It was about four o’clock when he suggested that we leave. I was surprised that he had allowed it to be so late. I very much doubted that we could get back before dark; but he probably knew that; he did not seem to be perturbed.
We said goodbye to the nurses and left.
“That is over,” he said, ‘a very necessary part of the proceedings.”
“The whole purpose of the expedition,” I reminded him.
He smiled at me and I noticed his manner had changed.
He said nothing for a mile or so and then he brought his horse close to mine.
“I am afraid we have left it rather late for getting back to Kaiserwald.”
“Why did we not leave earlier?”
“Having come so far, we had to see everything. We could, of course, go to an inn.”
“I did not notice a great many on the journey here.”
“Nevertheless, there are a few. On the other hand, a friend of mine has a hunting lodge not far from here. I think it would be an excellent idea if we threw ourselves on his hospitality for the night.”
“The Head Deaconess is expecting us back.”
“She will think we have stayed the night at Rosenwald. I did suggest that was a possibility.”
We rode on for about fifteen minutes. The sun was low in the sky; it would soon disappear altogether.
We were deep in the forest now.
“Very soon we shall come to the lodge,” he said.
“It’s a delightful place.”
“Your friend will be surprised. He might have guests.”
“I have an open invitation to use the place whenever I wish to. He doesn’t actually live there. It is, after all, merely a hunting lodge.”
“It might well be shut up.”
“There are always servants in residence.”
We had come to a clearing and before us was the lodge. It was bigger than I imagined a miniature schloss with a tower and turrets. Close to it was a cottage and to this he led me. As we approached a man appeared at the door. When he saw us he gave’ an exclamation of pleasure and recognition.
“Herr Doktor!” he cried.
“We’ve come for a night’s lodging, Hans,” said Dr. Adair.
“I suppose the Herr Graf is not here.”
“No, Herr Doktor. I will open up the lodge.”
“Do, please, Hans. We have come a long way. We are tired and hungry.”
I said: “Surely we should go to an inn. Your friend is not here ..”
“No … no. It is an arrangement we have. If the Graf thought we had come here and gone away he would be most put out. Moreover, he might come. If he is out hunting he might well stay the night here. The fires will be laid, the beds ready for airing and there is always food. “
“It seems extraordinary …”
“It’s the general practice in fact.” He smiled at me.
“I believe you are having misgivings.”
“Everything seems to have changed suddenly.”
“How? Tell me.”
“When we set out to see the hospital and while we were there inspecting it, everything seemed normal … reasonable.”
“And now you find it unreasonable?”
A young man had come out of the cottage to take our horses.
“Good evening, Franz,” said Dr. Adair.
“Is Frieda well?”
“Yes, Herr Doktor.”
“And the little one?”
“Very well.”
“We are staying the night. Your father is opening up for us. Has your mother something for our dinner?”
“But yes. As you know we are always prepared.”
“Good.”
“The Herr Graf was here a month ago.”
“So I heard. It is so good of him and you all to make us so welcome.”
“The Herr Graf would be angry if you did not make use of the lodge when you are hereabouts.”
“So I have been telling my companion.”
I said: “This is a most interesting place.”
“And comfortable, thanks to the good family Schwartz,” said Dr. Adair.
“Let me take you in. I’ll guess the fires are already lighted.”
He took my arm and drew me towards the hunting lodge.
“There,” he said.
“Are you satisfied? We are not gate crashing. And I am not playing some trick. This is indeed the hunting lodge of Graf von Spiegal, and it is a fact that he is a friend of mine and would take it as an insult if we were here and in need of lodging and went to an inn.”
“You are fortunate to have such friends.”
“You are right. I am.”
We went into a large hall. The fire was already alight and beginning to burn up.
“The bedrooms are ready. All they need is the application of the warming pans.”
“Is that what you call German efficiency?”
“It is certainly efficiency, and as we are now in Germany you may be right.”
A woman came into the hall; she was middle-aged, and rather plump, with rosy cheeks and a mass of flaxen hair.
“Ah, here is Else,” said Dr. Adair.
“Else, this is Miss Pleydell. You have come to look after us, I know.”
“We have hot soup and cold venison. Will that do, Herr Doktor?”
“It sounds just what we need.”
“And the rooms? The Oak and the …?” She hesitated and looked from him to me. I felt myself flush at the implication. Was she to prepare one room or two?
He was aware of my embarrassment and seemed amused.
He said: “The Oak Room … and the one next to it, please, Else. I think that would do very nicely. It is very good to be here. What an excellent idea of mine to remember this hunting lodge was so near.
This is much more comfortable than some wayside inn. ” He went on: ” Sit down. The food will be some little time, I dare say. “
“Half an hour, Herr Doktor,” said Else.
“Excellent. Perhaps in the meantime we could wash off the stains of the journey. Might we have some hot water?”
“I will get Frieda to bring it.”
“And Frieda is well?”
Else put her hands on her hips and looked sly.
“Expecting another,” said Dr. Adair.
“How old is young Fritz? Not more than two, I know.”
“Frieda is pleased.”
“And all goes well?”
“All is well, Herr Doktor.”
“Come and sit by the fire,” he said to me.
“You seem to know them very well.”
“I do. I have stayed here several times. The Graf is a most hospitable man.”
He was watching me closely.
“I fancy,” he said, ‘that you are a little uneasy. Let me guess. You are thinking that you are going to be alone with a man whose reputation you consider shady. Is that it? “
I said quickly: “Should I be thinking that?”
“Perhaps.”
“You are not the same as you were when we set out,” I said.
“You were cool … aloof almost.”
“And now I am warmer and a little intimate. Is that it?”
“Tell me why you have brought me here.”
“To give you a night’s shelter. It would not have been comfortable sleeping in the forest; and some of the inns hereabouts can be rather indifferent.”
“Did you know that we were coming here … I mean, when we set out?”
“I thought it a possibility. I had better make the situation clear.
The servants will be in their cottage. We shall have the lodge to ourselves. ” He was watching me closely.