, before she had a chance to learn that the Emperor was ready to
meet her demands. Egon had been attentive to Miss Mowbray; it might
well be believed even by the Emperor, that the young man had been
madly enough in love to act upon his own initiative, uninfluenced by
his brother.

The Chancellor's first act on parting with Leopold was to telegraph
Captain von Breitstein to meet the train by which he would return to
Kronburg; therefore on arriving at the station he was not surprised to
see Egon's handsome face prominent among others less attractive, on
the crowded platform.

"Well?" questioned the young man as the old man descended.

"I'm sorry to say it is very far from well. But between us, we shall,
I hope, improve matters. You have kept yourself _au courant_ with
everything that has happened in the camp of the enemy?"

"Yes."

"Is anything stirring?"

"Say 'any one,' and I can answer you more easily. Who do you think has
arrived at the hotel?"

"The devil, probably, to complicate matters."

"I've heard him called so; but a good-looking devil, and devilishly
pleasant. I met him in his motor, in which he'd driven into town from
his new toy, the hunting lodge in--"

"What! You mean the Prince--"

"Of Darkness, you've just named him." Egon gave a laugh at his own
repartee, but the Chancellor heard neither. His hard face brightened.
"That's well," said he grimly. "Here we have just the young man to see
us through this bad pass, if he's as good looking as ever, and in his
usual mood for mischief. If we can interest him in this affair, he may
save me a great deal of trouble, and you a mesalliance."

"But your wedding present to me--" began Egon, blankly.

"Don't distress yourself. Do what you can to assist me, and whatever
the end, you shall be my heir, I promise you. Is the Prince at the
hotel now?"

"Yes. He had been to call on you at your town house, he stopped his
automobile to tell me; and hearing from me that you would be back this
evening, he decided to stay all night at the hotel, so that he could
have a chat with you after your return, no matter at what hour it
might be. I believe he has left a note at your house."

"I will go to him, and we can then discuss its contents together,"
said Count von Breitstein. And the chauffeur who drove his electric
carriage was told to go to the Hohenlangenwald Hotel.

The Prince who would, the Chancellor hoped, become the _Deus ex
machina_, was engaged in selec