We reached the schoolroom where Pastor Kratz was waiting. I went in to have a word with him and the Count sent the children in after me.

When I came out he had gone.

Encounters with him disturbed me. He was determined to be critical and yet at the same time he was interested in me. Our badinage amused him.

I had always been able to hold my own in such conversations and when I was stimulated I felt these powers increase. I enjoyed my verbal battles. I had even enjoyed that one this morning, for I did not think I had come too badly out of it.

I knew what was going to happen. He was attracted by me. I must seem different from the women he would meet. I was a foreigner for one thing; he wanted to subdue me partly on this account. He had evidently been impressed by the dignity of our queen when she visited Saxe-Coburg, Meiningen and the surrounding states-and who would not be? Never had such a tiny person been able to display such regality.

On the occasions when I had seen her I had been impressed by it-not that I had seen her often, for since the death of the Prince Consort she had shut herself away and had rarely been seen by her subjects. I knew, though, that she had visited Germany after his death; and I could imagine the effect that unconscious royal dignity would have on a man like the Count. Moreover, she was a great Queen, with a growing empire; and he was the nephew of the Duke of an insignificant state.

How he would have revelled in her position! He would not see that it was natural acceptance of her royalty which gave her such presence.

How did I know so much about him? But he was easy to read. And this I knew: He was planning to seduce me. He betrayed that completely. He was ready to dally a little, but it would only be for a little while.

He would enjoy being repulsed at first, but not for long. I thought of those beautiful deer; the destruction of the fleetest and most difficult to ensnare would provide the greatest enjoyment. But he would soon tire of the chase. And then he would be angry. He would find fault with me. I should be dismissed. This had happened to a friend of mine one of the girls who had been with me at the Damenstift. She was exceptionally pretty and without means. She had become a governess. The master of the house had pursued her and when she had repulsed him at first he had been intrigued; but very soon she was looking for another post and had only a very indifferent testimonial to help her.

Life had become very uneasy since the appearance of the Count.

In the Randhausburg there was a garden. It was rather beautiful, shut in by stubby firs and containing a lawn with a fountain and seats painted white. Here the children practised their shooting and archery once a week. At one side was a sheer drop from the plateau, but the hedge of bushy firs made it safe for even little Liesel to wander in alone. It was a favourite spot of mine and I often went there. So this morning I took some books intending to work out my next lesson, but I suppose really to brood on my situation and to wonder whether I should begin making enquiries about a position at the Damenstift.

I was sitting with my back to the little gate which had been set up in the hedge of firs when I heard the latch click. Instinctively I knew who it was.

“Why, Miss Trant.”

He pretended to be surprised but I knew that he had seen me come here.

“Have you any objection to my sitting beside you?” he asked, with an irony which I pretended to ignore.

“Please sit here if you wish.”

“This is a pleasant garden,” he went on.

“Very pleasant.”

“I am glad you find it so. And what do you think of our little Klocksburg? “

“I would hardly describe it as little.”

Oh, but not to be compared with Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and is it Sandringham? “

“There is such a palace and one could not really compare Klocksburg with them. They are quite dissimilar.”

“And much more grand, eh?”

“I find it difficult to make these comparisons. Personally I have in a small house next to a bookshop. I can assure you that is not in the least like Klocksburg either.”

“A small house next to a bookshop,” he said.

“But a very superior small house next to a very superior bookshop, I dare say.”

I found it pleasant because it was my home. It is a good bookshop, too. “

“Do you think longingly of your home. Miss Trant?”

“Not yet. Perhaps I have not been away long enough.”

“I fancy you have a fondness for our mountains.” I assured him that I had.

The conversation was running too smoothly. He said: “I was interested to see that you had decided to throw open our haunted room.”

“I thought it wiser to open it than keep it shut. Frau Graben agreed with me.”

“It has been locked for several years, but you sweep away our traditions with an imperious wave of your English hand.”

“I must explain about the locked room.”

“I look forward to your explanations.

Miss Trant. ” The room was kept locked,” I said.

“Therefore it was given a certain eerie aura. I believed that if it were open, the idea that it was haunted would be swept away. It would be shown to be just a room-nothing more. And this is what is happening.”

“Bravo!” he said.

“St. George and the dragon only this time we have a St. Georgiana. With her cool common-sense broom she sweeps away our medieval cobwebs of superstition. That’s the case, isn’t it?”

“It was time that particular cobweb was swept away.”

“We like our fancies, you know. We are said to be so unimaginative, but are we really? You tell me. Miss Trant. You know so much about us.”

“I must dispute that.” I had half risen.

“You are not going?” He said it as a question but his eyes made it a statement.

He took my wrist and held it so firmly that I could not release it.

Rather than attempt and fail, I sat down.

“Pray tell me how you came here?” he said.

I told him about Frau Graben’s coming into the shop, how” we had spoken in German because her English was not very good.

“We grew friendly,” I said.

“She thought it would be a good idea if I came out to teach the children English, so I came.” < “What is she up to?” he murmured.

“I think she thought it would be good for the children to speak English.”

“English teachers are not very difficult to come by,” he mocked.

“Frau Graben thought a native would be best to teach the language.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Well,” he said at length, “I’m glad she brought you over.”

“I had the impression that you did not greatly admire my teaching ability. “

“But there are some things I do admire about you.”

“Thank you.” I rose again.

“If you will excuse me.”

“No,” he said.

“I will not. I have made it very clear that I wish to talk to you.”

“I cannot understand what we should have to talk about except the children’s progress in English and we have discussed that already.”

“That was a not very inspiring topic,” he said.

“I am sure we have greater points of interest. I find you amusing.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“That is what I call mock surprise. You know you amuse me. I see no reason why we should not become good friends.”

“I see many reasons.”

“What are they?”

“Your elevated position, for one thing. Aren’t you the nephew of the Duke? You have already seen that my knowledge of protocol is negligible.”

“It is easily acquired.”

“No doubt by those in the position to do so. As an English teacher-even though a parent of my charges is in a very exalted position-I could hardly expect noble etiquette to concern me.”

“It could concern you if I wished it.”

“Oh, but surely that would be another breach of the social code? After all, I am not even teaching your legitimate offspring.”

He leaned towards me.

“Would you care to? It could be arranged.”

“I am happy with the present arrangement.”

“Your cool English airs delight me. You behave as though I am a customer in the-er bookshop, was it?”

“Our encounter is not dissimilar. I have to sell my services as a teacher; you as my employer are buying them.”

“Ours is a more lengthy transaction, surely.”

“You would be surprised how many customers come back and back again in book shops “I think you and I are going to be on closer terms. What do you think?

Or haven’t you thought about it yet? “

“I do not have to think very long. I know that our respective positions and characters make a close acquaintance impossible.”

He was taken slightly aback and I felt the victory was mine, particularly as the gate clicked again and there stood Frau Graben smiling at us.

“I knew you were here,” she said.

“Miss Trant, Pastor Kratz wants to talk to you something about changing the time of tomorrow’s lesson. Fredy, I wanted a word with you.”

He frowned at her.

“Oh, you can frown, Herr Donner,” she said.

“You know I won’t have tantrums.”

As I hurried through the gate, I saw her fat smile as she prepared to do battle with the Count. I was reminded of Hildegarde, my guardian angel of the hunting lodge.

My thoughts were in a turmoil for the rest of the day. I knew the relentless obstinacy of men like Count Frederic. I could picture his riding through the countryside, selecting the women who took his fancy briefly. He had believed that I would be so overawed by his importance, so beguiled by his masculine charm, that I would be the next victim. If, in spite of my attitude he still believed he could overcome my resistance, he was mistaken.