The Captain and his wife came next day. Nils and I had talked over whether to hoist the flag; I dared not myself, but Nils was less cautious, and said we must. So there it was, flapping broad and free from its white staff.

I was close at hand when the carriage drove up and they got out. Fruen walked out far across the courtyard, looked at the house, and clapped her hands. I heard her, too, loud in wonder as she entered the hall — at sight of the stairs, no doubt, and the new red carpet.

Grindhusen had no sooner got the horses in than he came up to me, all agape with astonishment over something, and drew me aside to talk.

“There must be something wrong,” he said. That’s not Fru Falkenberg, surely? Is she married to him — the Captain, I mean?”

“Why, yes, Grindhusen, the Captain’s wife is married to the Captain. What makes you ask?”

“But it’s that cousin girl! I’ll stake my life on it if it’s not the very same one. The Inspector’s cousin that was there.”

“Not a bit of it, Grindhusen. But it might be her sister.”

“But I’ll stake my life on it. I saw her with him myself I don’t know how many times.”

“Well, well, she may be his cousin as far as that goes, but what’s it to do with us?”

“I saw it the moment she got out of the train. And she looked at me, too, and gave a start. I could see her breathing quickly after. Don’t come telling me. . . . But I can’t make out. . . . Is she from here?”

“Was Fruen pleased, or did she look unhappy?” I asked.

“Nay, I don’t know. Yes, I think she was.” Grindhusen shook his head, still marvelling how this could be the Captain’s wife. “You must have seen her with the Inspector yourself,” he said. “Didn’t you recognize her again?”

“Was she pleased, did you say?”

“Pleased? Why, yes, I suppose so. I don’t know. They talked such a lot of queer stuff the pair of them, driving home — began at the station, the minute she got out. There was a whole lot I couldn’t make out at all. ‘I don’t know what to say,’ said she, ‘but I beg you so earnestly to forgive me for it all.’ ‘And so do I,’ says he. Now did you ever hear such a thing? And they were both of them crying, I believe, in the carriage after. ‘I’ve had the place painted and done up a bit,’ said the Captain. ‘Have you?’ says she. And then he went on talking about all her things, and how they were still there and never been touched. I don’t know what things he meant, but he thought she’d find everything still in its place, he said. Did you ever hear the like? ‘All your things,’ he said. And then he went on about somebody Elisabet, and said he never gave her a thought, and never had, I think he said. And she cried like anything at that, and was all upset. But she didn’t say a word about being abroad, as the Captain said. No, I’ll stake my life she’d come from the Inspector.”

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