n the Chancellor await his return in the salon of the
Royal suite, which was always kept at his disposal, when he appeared
in the neighborhood, as he often did since purchasing the hunting
lodge a few miles out of Kronburg, in the forest.

Other foreign royalties, or lesser princes from the provinces,
occasionally occupied the apartments, also; and this handsome Royal
Highness of to-day was not the only one whom the Chancellor of Rhaetia
had visited there. He knew by heart the rich purple hangings in the
salon, with the double wolf-head of Rhaetia stamped in gold at regular
intervals on the velvet; and he sickened of their splendor now, as the
moments dragged, and he remained alone.

When half an hour had passed, he could no longer sit still on the
purple velvet sofa, but began walking up and down, his hands behind
him, scowling at the full length, oil-painted portraits of Rhaetia's
dead rulers; glaring a question into his own eyes in the long, gold
framed mirrors,--a question he would have given his life to hear
answered in the way he wished.

Three quarters of an hour had gone at last, and still the Chancellor
paced the purple drawing-room, and still the Prince did not come back
to tell the news.

Had the young man failed? Had that Siren up-stairs beguiled him, as
she had beguiled one stronger and greater than he? Was it possible
that she had lured the whole secret of their scheme from the Prince,
and then induced him to leave the hotel while her arch enemy fumed in
the salon, awaiting his return?

But no, there were quick footsteps outside the door; the handle was
turned. At least, his Royal Highness was not a traitor.

As the Chancellor had confessed, he was growing old. He felt suddenly
very weak; his lips fell apart, trembling; yet he would not utter the
words that hung upon them.

Fortunately the Prince read the appeal in the glittering eyes, and did
not wait to be questioned.

"Well, I've seen the lady and had a talk with her," he said, in a
voice which was, the old man felt, somehow different in tone from what
it had been an hour ago.

"And is she the person you have known?"

"Yes, she's a person I have known. It's--it's all right about that
plan of yours, Chancellor. She's going with me to the lodge."

"Heaven be praised! It seems almost too good to be true. When does she
go?"

"At once. That is, as soon as she can get ready. She will dine with
me, and my equerry will stop behind and eat the di