court full of them. Herr Johannes was ready to hand her
to the ground. He said: 'You have nothing to fear. These fellows are on
the march to Cremona. Perhaps it will be better if you are served up in
your chamber. You will be called early in the morning.'

She thanked him, and felt grateful. 'Beppo, look to yourself,' she said,
and ran to her retirement.

'I fancy that 's about all that you are fit for,' Herr Johannes remarked,
with his eyes on the impersonator of Beppo, who bore the scrutiny
carelessly, and after seeing that Vittoria had left nothing on the
carriage-seats, directed his steps to the kitchen, as became his
functions. Herr Johannes beckoned to a Tyrolese maid-servant, of whom
Beppo had asked his way. She gave her name as Katchen.

'Katchen, Katchen, my sweet chuck,' said Herr Johannes, 'here are ten
florins for you, in silver, if you will get me the handkerchief of that
man: you have just stretched your finger out for him.'

According to the common Austrian reckoning of them, Herr Johannes had
adopted the right method for ensuring the devotion of the maidens of
Tyrol. She responded with an amazed gulp of her mouth and a grimace of
acquiescence. Ten florins in silver shortened the migratory term of the
mountain girl by full three months. Herr Johannes asked her the hour when
the officers in command had supper, and deferred his own meal till that
time. Katchen set about earning her money. With any common Beppo it would
have been easy enough--simple barter for a harmless kiss. But this Beppo
appeared inaccessible; he was so courtly and so reserved; nor is a maiden
of Tyrol a particularly skilled seductress. The supper of the officers
was smoking on the table when Herr Johannes presented himself among them,
and very soon the inn was shaken with an uproar of greeting. Katchen
found Beppo listening at the door of the salle. She clapped her hands
upon him to drag him away.

'What right have you to be leaning your head there?' she said, and
threatened to make his proceedings known. Beppo had no jewel to give,
little money to spare. He had just heard Herr Johannes welcomed among the
officers by a name that half paralyzed him. 'You shall have anything you
ask of me if you will find me out in a couple of hours,' he said. Katchen
nodded truce for that period, and saw her home in the Oberinnthal still
nearer--twelve mountain goats and a cow her undisputed property. She
found him out, though he had strayed through