Karl nodded and, increasing the speed of the touring car, soon left the
green limousine and its new owners far behind.

The precision and speed with which the exchange of automobiles had been
accomplished and the unruffled impudence of the demeanor of Captain
Goritz gave Marishka a new idea of the caliber of the man upon whose
mercies she had been thrown, a new idea of the lengths to which he was
prepared to go in the performance of his duty. Success, the gaining of
which might easily have been tragic, was by his command of the situation
turned into something which seemed comically near opera-bouffe. She
could not understand what it all meant and timidly she asked him.

He smiled gravely.

"Your friend, Herr Windt, will be trying to make our journey difficult
for us. The green limousine was conspicuous. It was observed in Vienna.
We shall be more dusty, but I hope otherwise quite as comfortable."

"You think that we may be detained?" she asked anxiously.

"We shall do our best to prevent that from happening," he replied. "The
way is long and our paths must be devious, but I think we shall succeed.
There are many roads to Vienna, Countess." And then, with an air of
consideration, "I hope that loss of sleep is not wearing on you.
Presently we shall get out and have something to eat."

"Thank you," said Marishka with a grateful glance.

She felt Captain Goritz's look upon her for a long moment after she had
turned away. Marishka sighed gently. Her companion's gaze left her and
he peered straight before him, frowning. All this she knew by her
woman's sixth sense without even looking at him. Even a thinking machine
must have its moments of aberration. In a little while, the choice of
roads having been decided, he turned to her again and Marishka's eyes
met his fairly.

"You have not already regretted your bargain?" he asked quietly.

"No," she replied, smiling at him. "If you succeed, I shall regret
nothing. A pawn has small chance, when the fate of kings is in
question."

He was silent for a moment.

"I hope that you will understand my position, Countess. It is not my
wish to make war upon women----"

"But one's duty is paramount, of course," she put in quickly. "I am not
squeamish, Captain Goritz, but if my--my--er--elimination is necessary
to your plans, it is only fair that I should be advised of the fact in
time to say my prayers."

He regarded her soberly. Was she laughing at him? Her mien was quite