THE NET IS DRAWN During the days following Paul's visit to the village the ladies did not see much male society.

Paul and Steinmetz usually left the castle immediately after breakfast and did not return till nightfall.
"Is there any thing wrong ?" Maggie asked Steinmetz on the evening of the second day.
Steinmetz had just come into the vast drawing-room dressed for dinner--stout, placid, and very clean-looking.

They were alone in the room.
"Nothing, my dear young lady--yet," he answered, coming forward and rubbing his broad palms slowly together.
Maggie was reading an English newspaper.

She turned its pages without pausing to notice the black and sticky obliterations effected by the postal authorities before delivery.

It was no new thing to her now to come upon the press censor's handiwork in the columns of such periodicals and newspapers as Paul received from England.
"Because," she said, "if there is you need not be afraid of telling me." "To have that fear would be to offer you an insult," replied Steinmetz.
"Paul and I are investigating matters, that is all.