lent music,
sobering and dwarfing his emotions.

'Well, I forgive her,' he said. 'If it be of any use to her, I forgive.'

And with brisk steps he crossed the garden, issued upon the Park, and
came to the Flying Mercury. A dark figure moved forward from the shadow
of the pedestal.

'I have to ask your pardon, sir,' a voice observed, 'but if I am right in
taking you for the Prince, I was given to understand that you would be
prepared to meet me.'

'Herr Gordon, I believe?' said Otto.

'Herr Oberst Gordon,' replied that officer. 'This is rather a ticklish
business for a man to be embarked in; and to find that all is to go
pleasantly is a great relief to me. The carriage is at hand; shall I
have the honour of following your Highness?'

'Colonel,' said the Prince, 'I have now come to that happy moment of my
life when I have orders to receive but none to give.'

'A most philosophical remark,' returned the Colonel. 'Begad, a very
pertinent remark! it might be Plutarch. I am not a drop's blood to your
Highness, or indeed to any one in this principality; or else I should
dislike my orders. But as it is, and since there is nothing unnatural or
unbecoming on my side, and your Highness takes it in good part, I begin
to believe we may have a capital time together, sir--a capital time. For
a gaoler is only a fellow-captive.'

'May I inquire, Herr Gordon,' asked Otto, 'what led you to accept this
dangerous and I would fain hope thankless office?'

'Very natural, I am sure,' replied the officer of fortune. 'My pay is,
in the meanwhile, doubled.'

'Well, sir, I will not presume to criticise,' returned the Prince. 'And
I perceive the carriage.'

Sure enough, at the intersection of two alleys of the Park, a coach and
four, conspicuous by its lanterns, stood in waiting. And a little way
off about a score of lancers were drawn up under the shadow of the trees.

CHAPTER XIII--PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE THIRD
SHE ENLIGHTENS SERAPHINA

When Madame von Rosen left the Prince, she hurried straight to Colonel
Gordon; and not content with directing the arrangements, she had herself
accompanied the soldier of fortune to the Flying Mercury. The Colonel
gave her his arm, and the talk between this pair of conspirators ran high
and lively. The Countess, indeed, was in a whirl of pleasure and
excitement; her tongue stumbled upon laughter, her eyes shone, the colour
that was usually wanting now perfected her face. I