It came from behind a curtain spread over some clothes that hung on the wall, and Seitz said to himself that the person must be the maid whom he had just met.

She was in Els Ortlieb's service, and he was glad to have this living witness at hand.
If he could induce Heinz to talk with him here in the anteroom it would be impossible for her to escape.

So, feigning that he had noticed nothing, he pretended to be much amused by Biberli's nimble flight.
Forcing a laugh, he flung the hood at his head, and before he opened the door of the adjoining room again asked to speak to his master.
Biberli replied that he must wait; the knight was holding a religious conversation with a devout old mendicant friar.

If he might venture to offer counsel, he would not interrupt his master now; he had received very sad news, and the tailor who came to take his measure for his mourning garments had just left him.

If Seitz had any business with the knight, and expected any benefit from his favour and rare generosity---- But Siebenburg let him get no farther.