notwithstanding
the fact that they were less than fifteen feet away.

"He should be here at twelve," said one of the new comers in a low
voice and in fairly good English. The other merely grunted. There was a
silence of some duration, broken by the first speaker.

"If this job fails and you are caught it will mean years of servitude."

"But in that case we are to have ten thousand gavvos apiece for each
year we lie in prison. It's fair pay--not only for our failure, but
for our silence," said the other, whose English was more difficult to
understand.

Anguish's fingers gripped Lorry's leg, but there was no sound from
either of the thoroughly aroused dreamers. "A plot, as I live," thought
each, with a thrill.

"We must be careful to speak only in English. There are not twenty
people in Edelweiss who understand it, but the night has ears. It is the
only safe tongue. Geddos speaks it well. He should be here." It was
the first speaker who uttered these words, little knowing that he had
listeners other than the man to whom he spoke.

A dark figure shot across the roadway, and, almost before the Americans
were aware of it, the party numbered three.

"Ah, Geddos, you are punctual."

"I have found it ever a virtue." responded the newcomer.

"Have you secured your men?"

"I have, your--"

"Sh! Call me Michael, on your life! They are ready and willing to
undertake the venture?"

"Yes, but they do not understand the true conditions. I have told them
that we are to rob the castle and carry the booty to Ganlook before
morning."

"They do not know the real object of the raid, then. That is as I
desired. Are they trusty and experienced men?"

"The best--or the worst--that I could find in Vienna. Not one
understands our language, and they are so ignorant of our town that
they are entirely dependent on me. They know nothing whatever of the
Princess, Michael, and will do only as they are told, realizing that if
caught they will be guillotined. I have told them it is the royal palace
we are to rifle. Ostrom, here, and I are the only ones, except yourself
and the men who will aid us inside the castle, who know the truth, sir."

"It cannot fail, unless those inside prove false or unworthy," said the
hoarse-voiced Ostrom. Anguish's fingers were gripping Lorry's leg so
fiercely that the blood was ready to burst out, but he did not feel
the pain. Here, then, was some gigantic plot in which the person of the
Princess hersel