At eleven I received a telephone call from the Continental Hotel. It
was a woman's voice, and my heart beat violently as I recognized it. I
was requested to come at once to the hotel. I should find her in the
ladies' salon. I walked the distance in ten minutes. She told me all
that had happened.

"By this time it is all over the city. But it is all nonsense about
her Highness' eloping with any one. She is too nobly born to commit
such a folly. She has simply run away; and I very much fear that she
will be caught. The duke is in a terrible temper. I could not remain
in the palace, for the duke suspects that I know where she has gone. I
have my passports. The British consul is away hunting. You were the
only English-speaking person to whom I could come for aid."

"I am very glad."

"Will it be asking too much of you to aid me in leaving Barscheit
to-night? There is a train at one o'clock for Dresden."

"Leave Barscheit?" My heart sank dismally.

"Oh,"--with a smile,--"the world is small and England is even smaller."

"I shall have to give up the consulate,"--gravely.

She laughed. "I shall be in England for something more than a year.
Truthfully, I hunger for mine own people. You know what that hunger
is."

"Yes. I shall go home as often as possible now. I always stop a few
days in London."

"Then I shall expect to see you; perhaps during the holidays. I am
determined to leave Barscheit before the duke changes his mind.
Heavens, he may put me in prison!"

"I doubt that."

I saw to it that she secured a sleeping-compartment all to herself,
took charge of her luggage and carefully examined her papers. Then we
had a small supper. I wanted to ask a thousand questions, but my
courage lacked the proper key.

"May I have the pleasure of writing to you occasionally?" I finally
ventured. "I am sure that you would like a bit of Barscheit gossip
from time to time."

"Write to me, by all means. I shall await these letters with great
pleasure."

"And answer them?"--growing bolder.

"It is easily seen that you are a diplomat. Yes, I shall answer them.
Heigh-ho! I shall miss my rides." What a brave little woman she was!

Finally we started for the station, and I saw her to the gates. We
shook hands, and I was sure I felt a very friendly pressure; and then
she disappeared. There was altogether a different feeling in my heart
as I watched _her_ train draw out. Eh, well, the world is small