breast showed that this
man knew something of women and of those short-lived fainting fits that
belong to strong emotions.

The maid soon came.

"The princess requires your attention," said Steinmetz, still watching
De Chauxville, who was looking at Etta and neglecting his opportunities.

Steinmetz went up to him and took him by the arm.

"Come with me," he said.

The Frenchman could have taken advantage of the presence of the servant
to effect a retreat, but he did not dare to do so. It was essential that
he should obtain a few words with Etta. To effect this, he was ready
even to face an interview with Steinmetz. In his heart he was cursing
that liability to inconvenient fainting fits that make all women
unreliable in a moment of need.

He preceded Steinmetz out of the room, forgetting even to resent the
large, warm grasp on his arm. They went through the long, dimly lit
passage to the old part of the castle, where Steinmetz had his rooms.

"And now," said Steinmetz, when they were alone with closed doors, "and
now, De Chauxville, let us understand each other."

De Chauxville shrugged his shoulders. He was not thinking of Steinmetz
yet. He was still thinking of Etta and how he could get speech with her.
With the assurance which had carried him through many a difficulty
before this, the Frenchman looked round him, taking in the details of
the room. They were in the apartment beyond the large smoking room--the
ante-room, as it were, to the little chamber where Paul kept his
medicine-chest, his disguise, all the compromising details of his work
among the peasants. The broad writing-table in the middle of the room
stood between the two men.

"Do you imagine yourself in love with the princess?" asked Steinmetz
suddenly, with characteristic bluntness.

"If you like," returned the other.

"If I thought that it was that," said the German, looking at him
thoughtfully, "I would throw you out of the window. If it is any thing
else, I will only throw you down stairs."

De Chauxville bit his thumb-nail anxiously. He frowned across the table
into Steinmetz's face. In all their intercourse he had never heard that
tone of voice; he had never seen quite that look on the heavy face. Was
Steinmetz aroused at last? Steinmetz aroused was an unknown quantity to
Claude de Chauxville.

"I have known you now for twenty-five years," went on Karl Steinmetz,
"and I cannot say that I know any good of you. But let that pass; it is