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Berbel looked at him for a moment, and then laughed a little, a phenomenon which with her was exceedingly unusual. 'You are really not stupid at all, she remarked. The ghost of a smile played about Wastei's thin lips as he turned his eyes upon her. Their expression was at once keen, cunning and good-natured. 'Nobody ever said I was particularly dull, he answered.
'It is true it is Wastei. Unless he is mistaken himself there can be no doubt, then. But it is all so strange! It was stranger still, perhaps, that Wastei's name should be enough to dispel in Hilda's mind all doubts as to the truth of the story, and yet she would have believed the wild, kind-hearted free-shot sooner than many a respectable member of society.
She ran down the stairs to meet her mother and Greif. The story of the hare and Wastei's breeches had almost chased away her good intentions to look appropriately sad. The hideous tragedy of the Greifensteins was very far from her simple young life. The great carriage swung round and drew up before the door of the hall, and Hilda was already standing upon the low steps.
It struck the good woman that Hilda would certainly wish to hear the whole story of Wastei's discovery, which was strange enough, indeed; and that when she had heard it, that would not be all, for if they decided to give Greif the letter at once, he also must know whence it came.
The good woman carefully folded the coat and hid it away in the recesses of a huge press that filled the end of the room. Then she rolled up the coloured handkerchief and put it into her pocket. 'It is Wastei's, she said, as her mistress watched her. The disappearance of the coat recalled to Hilda the duty of acting immediately, and she rose from her seat with a heavy heart.
And as they talked, the banner, hoisted by Wastei's wiry arms, reached the very top of the staff, and remained there, waving majestically, where many a one like it had waved during eight hundred years and more. At that moment Greif, in his carriage, was coming up the last ascent. He saw the lordly standard, changed colour a little and then rose in the light vehicle and uncovered his head.
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