. There is
a small gate in the rear wall of the castle. Be there at nine o'clock
tonight, and you will then know the work that you have to do. Now go and
be silent and, if you fail to be at the gate at the appointed time, that
which you like little may happen to you."

John bowed and left the illustrious presence. He was on fire with
eagerness and curiosity, and there was apprehension too. Would his trust
take him away from Julie at a time when he was needed most? It must not
be so, and his faith was strong that it would not be so. Yet his heart
was beating very hard and his impatience for the night to come was
great. But he strove his utmost to preserve at least the appearance of
calmness. He saw that Walther was full of curiosity and now and then
asked indirect questions, but John remembering his instructions gave no
answer.

Once he passed Ilse and Olga, those twin spirits of mischief and
kindness, and they stopped him to speak of the great company that was
coming.

"They say it's to be the mightiest array of princes and generals
gathered at Zillenstein in a hundred years," said Ilse.

"So I hear," said John.

"And you may be called from the stable to serve in the castle. The man
who rode the horse of Count Pappenheim may have to carry a plate and a
napkin."

"One can but do his best."

"But it will be a great scene. Perhaps the Kaiser himself will be here,
or the old Emperor."

"Perhaps."

"Aren't you eager to see them?" asked Ilse, piqued a little at his lack
of curiosity.

"Oh yes," replied John, recalling that he must make believe, "but I've
seen the Kaiser several times and once at Vienna I could almost have
reached out my hand and touched the old Emperor, as he rode on his way
to Schonbrunn."

He passed on and they looked after him. They liked the bearing of this
young peasant who was respectful, but who certainly was never servile.
But it was in John's mind that however brilliant the great council might
be he would not see it. He was surely going from Zillenstein but it was
for the future to say whether his absence would be short or long.

While John was at the stables young Kratzek sent for his horse, and
John, after his custom, led the animal to him. He had long since ceased
to fear discovery by the Austrian, and his immunity made him careless,
or it may be that Kratzek's eyes were uncommonly keen that day. He stood
beside John, as the young American fixed the stirrup, and some motion or
ge