the door, calling.

"The truth is easily ascertained," said Madame. "Conceal yourself in the
Rittersaal, and await his coming forth. But you had best go attended,
for it is a very reckless rogue, and he has been known aforetime to
practice murder."

Whilst the Elector, acting upon this advice, was getting his men
together, Koenigsmark was wasting precious moments in Sophia's
antechamber, whilst Mademoiselle de Knesebeck apprised her Highness
of his visit. Sophia had already retired to bed, and the amazing
announcement of the Count's presence there startled her into a fear of
untoward happenings. She was overwhelmed, too, by the rashness of this
step of his, coming after the events of yesterday. If it should be known
that he had visited her thus, terrible consequences might ensue. She
rose, and with Mademoiselle de Knesebeck's aid made ready to receive
him. Yet for all that she made haste, the precious irreclaimable moments
sped.

She came to him at last, Mademoiselle de Knesebeck following, for
propriety's sake.

"What is it?" she asked him breathlessly. "What brings you here at such
an hour?"

"What brings me?" quoth he, surprised at that reception. "Why, your
commands--your letter."

"My letter? What letter?"

A sense of doom, of being trapped, suddenly awoke in him. He plucked
forth the treacherous note, and proffered it.

"Why, what does this mean?" She swept a white hand over her eyes and
brows, as if to brush away some thing that obscured her vision. "That is
not mine. I never wrote it. How could you dream I should be imprudent as
to bid you hither, and at such an hour How could you dream it?"

"You are right," said he, and laughed, perhaps to ease her alarm,
perhaps in sheer bitter mirth. "It will be, no doubt, the work of
our friend, Madame von Platen. I had best begone. For the rest, my
travelling chaise will wait from noon until sunset to-morrow by the
Markt Kirck in Hanover, and I shall wait within it. I shall hope to
conduct you safely to Wolfenbuttelyy."

"I will come, I will come. But go now--oh, go!"

He looked very deeply into her eyes--a valedictory glance against the
worst befalling him. Then he took her hand, bowed over it and kissed it,
and so departed.

He crossed the outer ante-room, descended the short flight of stairs,
and pushed open the heavy door of the Hall of Knights. He passed
through, and thrust the door behind him, then stood a moment looking
round the vast apartment. If