d to the
group before the fireplace. They watched him interestedly.

"Colonel," he said, "make no effort to seek Beauvais. As for Kopf, that
is different. But Beauvais--"

"To let him go?" exclaimed the Colonel in dismay.

"Aye, to let him go. We do not seek bears with birdshot, and that is all
we have. He will leave the country."

"And go to the duchy!"

"So much the better; when the time comes, our case against him will
be so much the stronger. Mind you, this is not from sentiment. I have
none," glaring around to see if any dared refute this assertion. "It is
policy, and Monseigneur concurs with me."

"But I have sent men after him!" cried the Colonel, in keen
disappointment.

"Send men after them to rescind the order."

"And if they should catch him?"

"Let him go; that is my order. The servant will be sufficient for our
needs. Monsieur Carewe, I rely on your discretion;" and the Marshal
passed into the kitchens.

The men looked at each other in silence. A moment later the Colonel
dashed from the room, off to the stables.

"Well, I'm off," said Maurice. The desire to tell what he knew was
beginning to master him. It was too late now, he saw that. Besides, they
might take it into their heads to detain him. He put on his hat. "Good
night; and good luck to your leg, Captain."

"Till to-morrow," said von Mitter, who had taken a fancy to the
smooth-faced young American, who seemed at home in all places.

"I am going away to-morrow," said Maurice, pressing the Lieutenant's
hand. "I shall return in a day or so."

He led his horse to the hotel stables, lit a fresh cigar and promenaded
the terrace. "Some day," he mused, "perhaps I'll be able to do something
for myself. To-morrow we'll take a look at Fitzgerald's affairs, like
the good fairy we are. If the Colonel is there, so much the worse for
one or the other of us." He laughed contentedly. "Beauvais took my
warning and lit out, or his henchman would never have made a botch of
the abduction. It is my opinion that Madame wanted a hostage, for it
is impossible to conceive that the man made the attempt on his own
responsibility. I shall return to the duchy in a semi-official character
as an envoy extraordinary to look into the whereabouts of one Lord
Fitzgerald. Devil take me, but I did make a mess of it when I slapped
him on the shoulder that night." The princess had not addressed a word
to him. Why?

When the princess and her maid of honor had passed thro