duty as
well as mine--your duty to the one who shares with Franz Ferdinand the
secret of the rose garden--his friend, and if God so wills--his ally. It
is all so terrible--so bewildering. But you must see that I am in
earnest--that I am speaking the truth."

"Yes, yes," he said abstractedly, nodding, and then was silent, while
the machine went thundering northward, every moment taking them further
from Marishka's goal. She watched his face anxiously for a sign. His
eyes glowed somberly but he did not more or glance aside. His problem,
it appeared, was as deep as hers. For an age, he sat there like a stone
figure, but she had the instinct not to speak, and after a while he
straightened, leaned quickly forward and threw down the window in front
of them.

"What is the village before us, Karl?" he asked in quick tones.

"Beneschau, Herr Hauptmann."

"There is a road to Bruenn?"

"Yes, a fair one, Herr Hauptmann."

"Take it--and faster."

That was all. Marishka knew that she had won. Captain Goritz was
frowning at the dial of his watch.

"Perhaps we are too late--but we can at least try," he muttered.

"Whatever your mission with regard to me--that is unimportant--beside
this other duty----"

"Yes, yes. We shall need you. If you could reach the Duchess
personally----"

"She will listen. I have known her all my life."

"Good. We must succeed." And then, figuring to himself. "Bruenn--one
hundred kilometers--Vienna seventy more--five hours--six perhaps. They
may not leave Vienna at once----"

"The German Ambassador----" she suggested.

"Of course." And then, turning suddenly toward her, his eyes intent, he
said, with great seriousness: "Countess Strahni, for the moment your
interests and mine are identical. The success of this project depends
upon your silence----"

"Anything----!"

"One moment, please," he put in quickly. "I wish you to understand the
seriousness of your position. Your security, your safety now and later,
will depend upon your own actions. You have proved yourself politically
dangerous to the peace--to the welfare of Europe. My mission was to
bring you safely into Germany. Failing in that, I must exact absolute
silence and obedience----"

"Yes----"

"You travel as my wife, the wife of a German officer going to Vienna for
medical advice----"

She flinched a little, but his air of abstraction reassured her.

"Do you agree?"

"Yes."

"You have friends in Vienna. You must not see t