ous to hear.

"Damnation!" he said, or some such word. "The little fool!" Then,
suddenly remembering his dignity and the phrase that no man is a hero
to his valet, he pointed to his glasses, at the same time returning the
letter to its envelope, this letter which had caused this momentary
perturbation. "Call the minister of police. You will find him in the
smoking-room off the conservatory. Make all haste!"

The valet flew out of the door, while the duke began pacing up and down
the room, muttering and growling, and balling his fists, and jingling
his shining medals. He kicked over an inoffensive hassock and his
favorite hound, and I don't know how many long-winded German oaths he
let go. (It's a mighty hard language to swear in, especially when a
man's under high pressure.)

"The silly little fool! And on a night like this! Curse it! This is
what comes of mixing Spanish blood with German, of letting her aunt's
wishes overrule mine in the matter of education. But she shall be
brought back, even if I have to ask the assistance of every sovereign
in Europe. This is the end. And I had planned such a pleasant evening
at cards!" The duke was not wholly unselfish.

In less than ten minutes' time the valet returned with the minister of
police. The duke immediately dismissed the valet.

"Your serene Highness sent for me?" asked the minister, shaking in his
boots. There had been four ministers of police in three years.

"Yes. Read this."

The minister took the letter. He read it with bulging eyes. "Good
heavens, it must be one of her Highness' jokes!"

"It will be a sorry joke for you if she crosses any of the frontiers."

"But--"

"But!" roared the duke. "Don't you dare bring up that word scandal!
Seek her. Turn everybody out,--the army, the police, everybody. When
you locate her, telegraph, and have a special engine awaiting me at the
station. And if you play a poor game of cards to-night I'll take away
your portfolio. Remember, if she passes the frontier, off goes your
official head!"

"And the fellow, who is he?"

"The good Lord only knows! That girl! . . . Witness these grey hairs.
Put the rascal in irons; I'll attend to his case when I arrive. . . .
Where is Steinbock?"

"He was arrested this morning in Berlin; I have already applied for his
extradition."

"Good! Now, be off with you! Leave no stone unturned. The expense is
nothing; I will gladly pay it out of my private purse