eight o'clock
The little maid of honor , Louise von Schwerin , was walking with quick steps up and down her room ; she had locked her door to secure herself from interruption . She wished to read once more the mysterious note found yesterday in the bunch of flowers , and once more to meditate undisturbed upon its contents . Louise knew the note was from the handsome gardener Fritz Wendel ; from him came the beautiful flowers she found daily upon the sill of her window , and he only could have concealed the note amongst them . There were but a few lines , entreating her to meet him that night at eight o'clock , in the grotto of the conservatory , where she should learn an important and dangerous secret . `` What can the secret be ? '' asked Louise of herself , after reading the note again and again . `` Perhaps , '' she said , with a roguish smile , `` perhaps he thinks that his love for me is a secret .