r would seek a more propitious
moment, to carry it out later in Vienna. Herr Windt yawned again. His
visit to Bohemia would have been indeed a delight if a secret agent of
the caliber of Herr Hauptman Leo Goritz, or Ober Lieutenant Franz
Scheib, could have been sent upon this delicate mission to oppose him.
But there was no such luck. Herr Windt had made a careful round of
village and garden while Herr Renwick remained under the eye of his men,
and there had been no sign of anything suspicious to disturb the
monotonous peacefulness of the quiet garden. The reaction which always
followed upon success, had set in, and the famous man was now frankly
bored and somewhat fidgety. He got up and paced the stone walk a few
times and then gazed out to where his most trusted man, Spivak, was
dozing in the sun. Everything was too quiet, too peaceful. The serenity
of the landscape annoyed him. He glanced at his watch--still four hours
of this infernal quiet before their train left for Vienna. He went to
the door of the room into which Herr Renwick had gone to lie down and
looked in. The room was empty. This was not surprising, for Herr Renwick
was under parole and would have the freedom of the garden in the
immediate vicinity of the two cabins. As the morning was hot he had
perhaps gone out to enjoy the shade of the trees. But Herr Windt now
moved with alacrity and crossed the small plot of vegetable garden which
separated the two cabins, and in some haste turned the corner of the
small building which sheltered the Countess Strahni.

Before the door, listening, a puzzled look upon his face was Herr
Renwick.

"I have called her three times," said the Englishman quickly. "She
sleeps very soundly--or else----"

But Herr Windt did not stand upon ceremony, for he thrust past the
Englishman, threw open the inner door, then returned bellowing lustily.

"Gone! The room is empty----"

"Gone!" cried Renwick.

Windt eyed him keenly.

"I have been yonder, by the trees, near your man----" protested Renwick
and there seemed no doubt as to his innocence.

"Hi! Spivak! Linder! Hadwiger!" cried Windt. And as the men came running
from all directions, "She is gone. What have you been at?"

"Gone?"

"By the window, idiots; did none of you see her?"

"No, Herr Windt----"

"But she could not have flown up the chimney----"

He halted abruptly, then dashed into the room again, peering into the
fire place and examining the furniture, all hi