And now, to her unspeakable horror, she saw that Wilhelm had disappeared, and the thick muddy waters gave no clew to the spot where he had gone down.
This was too much, and she altogether lost consciousness.

When she came to herself she was lying on the sofa in her husband's smoking room, her dress in disorder, and the maids busy about her.

She first looked round her startled, then her memory returned with a flash, and she cried with quivering lips: "How is Willy--and Dr.Eynhardt ?" "Master Willy has quite come round, and they are putting him to bed," the servants hastened to answer.
"But Dr.Eynhardt ?" To that they had no reply.
Malvine jumped up and would have rushed out.
"Gnadige Frau!" cried the girls, horrified, "you can't go out like that!" They held her back; Malvine struggled to free herself, but at that moment there was a sound of heavy footsteps and a confused murmur of voices in the hall, some one flung open the door, the man-servant put in his head, but started back at sight of his mistress and closed the door abruptly.

Then he went on, and the footsteps and murmuring voices followed him.
"They are bringing him in!" shrieked Malvine, and they could hold her back no longer.

A moment later and she knew that she was right.