beauty and wit I should like to remain," replied
John with increasing gallantry, still holding his cap in his hands, "but
who can tell where he will be a week hence in times like these?"

Again they laughed and nudged each other. Ilse had a shrewd and
observant mind.

"Your German has a French accent," she said.

"I was born in a land that was once French--Lorraine--so my blood is
French by descent, although I am wholly German in loyalty and in
feeling. But I'm not the first person of French blood that you ever saw,
am I?"

He asked the question in a careless tone, but he awaited the answer with
anxiety.

"Oh, no," replied Ilse. "Many people come to the great castle of
Zillenstein. Two Frenchwomen are here now, spies, terrible spies they
say, but I can scarce believe it, at least of the young one,
Mademoiselle Julie, who is so beautiful, and who speaks to us so
gently."

"But it may be true of the other of low degree, the surly Suzanne," said
blond Olga.

"At least, they're where they can't get back to France as long as this
war lasts," said John, looking up at the formidable castle. "It seems a
sad thing to me that women should be spies. It isn't right."

He spoke in his most engaging manner. Again his frank look and
attractive smile were winning him friends where he needed friends most.
He saw, too, that he was on a subject that interested the maids. Once
more fortune was favoring him who wooed her so boldly.

"But," said the blond and substantial Olga, "I think the beautiful
Mademoiselle Lannes is in no danger. The prince himself loves her and
would marry her. We can see it, can we not Ilse?"

"At least we think it."

"We know it. And His Highness might search Europe and not find a woman
more beautiful. She has the most wonderful hair, pure gold, with little
touches of copper, when the firelight or the sunlight is deep upon it,
and when loosed it falls to her knees. I have seen it."

"And marvelous blue eyes," said Ilse. "A dark blue like the waters of
our mountain lakes. Oh, no, the Prince of Auersperg can never punish
her!"

John laughed.

"This French spy seems more dangerous as a captive than free," he said.

"That is so," said Ilse, seriously. "If Prince Karl of Auersperg,
powerful as he is, were disposed to punish her, the others would not let
him."

"What others?"

"The young Count Kratzek, the relative of the prince. He loves her, too,
and he scarcely seeks to hide it. And Count Pappen