dge
of the still grimmer one that was to follow it, weighed upon my heart
like lead. All day long, from my study window, I could see the crowd
passing into the building by one door and out by another. I could not
but watch it, though the sight irritated me beyond measure. Had it not
been for the constant letters of love and sympathy that I received from
Ottilie, I believe I could not have borne it as well as I did.

Of the funeral ceremony itself I will say but little. Its grandeur and
pomp could not have been excelled. I did my best to bear myself as a man
should, but as I looked at the coffin, and thought of what it contained,
my feelings well-nigh overcame me. When all was over, I left the
cathedral and entered the carriage that awaited me at the foot of the
steps. The great square was crowded, till it resembled one vast sea of
heads, upon which a gleam of wintry sunshine played as if with a
caressing hand. Slowly I drove along to the accompaniment of the
respectful salutations of the people, though, wrapt as I was in my own
thoughts, I was scarcely conscious of their presence. We were not
half-way across the square, however, before my feelings underwent a
complete change. Looking from the carriage I saw among the multitude of
faces one that stung me to instant action. I could scarcely believe the
evidence of my own eyes. I looked again, only to become doubly certain
that there was no mistake. To the best of my belief, there, looking up
at me, was the man we suspected, the individual who had cannoned into
Bertram at Zaarfburg, and to search for whom Bertram had returned to the
scene of Max's death. A moment later it had disappeared, and I was left
wondering what I should do. To stop the procession and to go in search
of the man was out of the question, and yet to continue our journey to
the palace would be to run the risk of allowing him to escape. Situated
as I was, there was nothing for it but to go on and to trust to
Providence for the rest. One thing, however, was quite certain. A
message must be sent to Bertram telling him to return to Pannonia at
once. Drawing Strekwitz aside as soon as we reached the palace, I told
him what had happened, and gave him the necessary instructions.

For the remainder of the day the memory of the face I had seen in the
crowd haunted me like that of a ghoul. Please God, Bertram would not be
too late to catch him after all.

CHAPTER XXII.

I was well aware that, even shou