Austria and
confer with them. His position as a Prussian general and a prince of
both empires made him the most suitable person for the duty, and
Zillenstein, in the heart of Austria, was the best place for the
meeting.

Walther, a taciturn man, volunteered so much, but he went no farther,
and John, despite his great anxiety, did not ask any questions. He knew
that he was a too recent arrival at Zillenstein to be making inquiries
without arousing suspicion, and it was better anyhow to go slowly. Late
in the afternoon, Walther directed him to saddle and bridle a fine young
horse and lead him to the front of the castle.

"One of the young noblemen who was wounded in a great battle in the west
has been recovering from his wound at Zillenstein," he said, "and he has
been riding every day toward evening. You will hold the horse until he
comes, but he is always prompt."

John led the horse, a fine young bay, along a curving road, until he
stood before the entrance of the castle. There he waited in silence, but
he was using his eyes all the time. He admired the great size and
strength of Zillenstein, even in its decayed state, and he was confirmed
in his belief that the prince and his suite inhabited the extension of
the right wing. Doubtless Julie and Suzanne should be sought there.

While he stood holding the horse one or two soldiers passing gave him
scrutinizing looks, and a couple of trim Austrian maids did likewise,
smiling at the same time, because John was very good looking, despite
his fuzzy young beard. He smiled back at them, as became one of his
lowly station who had met with approval, and whispering to each other
they passed on. Now, he had two more new friends, and it occurred to him
that these maids also might be of use to him in his great quest. He had
formed his plan and like a good general he was marshaling every possible
force for its success.

While he was thinking about it, the convalescent came, a young officer,
trim, slender, in a fine uniform of blue and silver. It was none other
than that same lad, Leopold Kratzek, whom he had saved in the fight at
the trench. In his surprise John came very near to greeting him by name,
but luckily he controlled himself in time.

He noticed that Kratzek was almost entirely recovered. The color in his
face was fresh, his walk was firm and elastic, and John was glad of it.
He liked the lad whose life he had saved. He recalled, too, that his
presence there was not