"My child, any place to remove the dust of travel will do for me." She
turned toward the villager at the door. "Tell my chauffeur that when he
repairs the car I shall want it kept in readiness to use again."

Nita advanced anxiously.

"Your Highness is not thinking of going to the castle to-night,
surely?" Her voice was politely remonstrative, with a note of
apprehensiveness for the welfare of her mistress.

"But I must have news," declared the young woman impatiently. "I am
frantic with worry, and the things which Jose has told me. Come to a
room, Nita."

"Ah, your Highness, you are too brave, too determined. You are all worn
out with this long trip. Better to wait until daylight, if I may be so
bold as to suggest to your ladyship. You are all unstrung just now."

Maria Theresa did indeed show the strain of the nerve-racking trip, but
she valiantly shook her head.

"Show me up, Dolores. When Mr. Warren, my representative, arrives
inform him that I will be down very soon. Come, Nita, for I know that
your hands can rest me, with their skillful massage," and she spoke
wearily.

Pedro stepped forward, bowing.

"Allow me the honor, your Highness. I have the finest chamber in the
tavern prepared for you--a fire to take the night chill from the
largest bedroom."

She started up the steps, followed by her maid and the old man, still
risking a strained back with his excited bows.

Again she turned to Dolores, with a strange nervousness, to say: "Do
not forget to explain to Mr. Warren. He may think I have left the
tavern. I will see him soon."

"I will give your commands to the Senor Americano, your Highness,"
promised the black-eyed Dolores, with a heightened color.

Then the Princess disappeared across the end of the balcony. Dolores
walked to the doorway, and discerned two figures approaching with a
strange slowness.

"Is this the inn?" cried a voice, with a slight foreign accent in the
Spanish.

"Yes, yes, senor. Come in, senor, we are expecting you," replied the
girl.

The villagers were still grouped about the door to the taproom. Dolores
stepped back, as Warren Jarvis and Rusty Snow entered the big front
hallway, and blinked in the unaccustomed glare of light.

They were both burdened with suitcases, and two of the Princess'
hatboxes. These they dropped unceremoniously on the floor, with sighs
of relief.

"We're here, Rusty, with both feet!"

"Yassir," and the negro groaned with exhaustion, "an