rscheit, and your entering this
carriage has proved the greatest possible misfortune to you."

He stared helplessly--And everything had been going along so
nicely--the dinner he had planned in Dresden, and all that!

"And they believe," the girl went on, "that I have eloped with you to
avoid marrying the prince." She turned to the officer in the doorway.
"Colonel, on the word of a princess, this gentleman is in no wise
concerned. I ran away alone."

Max breathed easier.

"I should be most happy to believe your Highness, but you will honor my
strict observance of orders." He passed a telegram to her.

_Search train for Doppelkinn. Princess has eloped. Arrest and hold
pair till I arrive on special engine._

_Barscheit._

The telegraph is the true arm of the police. The princess sighed
pathetically. It was all over.

"Your passports," said the colonel to Max.

Max surrendered his papers. "You need not tie my hands," he said
calmly. "I will come peaceably."

The colonel looked inquiringly at the princess.

"He will do as he says."

"Very good. I should regret to shoot him upon so short an
acquaintance." The colonel beckoned for them to step forth.
"Everything is prepared. There is a carriage for the convenience of
your Highness; Herr Ellis shall ride horseback with the troop."

Max often wondered why he did not make a dash for it, or a running
fight. What he had gone through that night was worth a good fight.

"Good-by," said the princess, holding out her hand.

Scharfenstein gravely bent his head and kissed it.

"Good-by, Prince Charming!" she whispered, so softly that Max scarcely
heard her.

Then she entered the closed carriage and was driven up the dark,
tree-enshrouded road that led to the Castle of Doppelkinn.

"What are you going to do with me?" Max asked, as he gathered up the
reins of his mount.

"That we shall discuss later. Like as not something very unpleasant.
For one thing you are passing under a forged passport. You are _not_
an American, no matter how well you may speak that language. You are a
German."

"There are Germans in the United States, born and bred there, who speak
German tolerably well," replied Max easily. He was wondering if it
would not be a good scheme to tell a straightforward story and ask to
be returned to Barscheit. But that would probably appeal to the
officer that he was a coward and was trying to lay the blame on the
princess.

"I do no