"Do not leave him till I return.

I will not be long." She would not have let a dog go without a word that had come from Anton's house or from Anton's presence.

Perhaps he had written to her.

If there were but a line to say, "Pardon me; I was wrong," everything might yet be right.

But Ruth Jacobi was the bearer of no note from Anton, nor indeed had she come on her present message with her uncle's knowledge.