ed with her presence, and
tortured by the thought of the conditions that prevented my following her,
called a cab, and drove to our minister's. Mr. Motley then held the
portfolio; my passport had expired, and, as I was entering Germany, needed
renewing. The attache agreed to the necessity, stamped it, and brought it
back to me with the ink still wet.

"'His excellency,' said he, 'advises extreme caution on your part while
here. Be careful of your associates, and keep out of suspicious company.
Vienna is full of spies watching escaped Polish refugees. Your
name'--reading it carefully--'is apt to excite remark. We are powerless to
help in these cases. Only last week an American who befriended a man in
the street was arrested on the charge of giving aid and comfort to the
enemy, and, despite our efforts, is still in prison.'

"I thanked him, and regained my cab with my head whirling. What, after
all, if the countess should have deceived me? My blood chilled as I
remembered her words of the day before: recalled by the government she
hated, her two brothers forced into the army, the cruelties and
indignities Russia had heaped upon her family, and this last peremptory
order to return. Had my sympathetic nature and inexperience gotten me into
trouble? Then that Madonna-like head with angelic face, the lips moving in
prayer, rose before me. No, no; not she. I would stake my life.

"I entered my hotel, and walked across the corridor for the key of my
room. Standing by the porter was an Austrian officer in full uniform, even
to his white kid gloves. As I passed I heard the porter say in German:--

"'Yes; that is the man.'

"The Austrian looked at me searchingly, and, wheeling around sharply,
said:--

"'Monsieur, can I see you alone? I have something of importance to
communicate.'

"The remark and his abrupt manner indicated so plainly an arrest, that for
the moment I hesitated, running over in my mind what might be my wisest
course to pursue. Then, thinking I could best explain my business in
Vienna in the privacy of my room, _I_ said stiffly:--

"'Yes; I am now on my way to my apartment. I will see you there.'

"He entered first, shut the door behind him, crossed the room; passed his
hand behind the curtains, opened the closet, shut it, and said:--

"'We are alone?'

"'Quite.'

"Then, confronting me, 'You are an American?'

"'You are right.'

"'And have your passport with you?'

"I drew it from my pocket, and