it impulse was
gone.

There was a small garage behind the inn, and the great automobile almost
filled it, but John, clinging to his role of chauffeur, which was
expedient in every sense, would not trust it to any of the servants of
the hotel. He inspected it carefully himself, saw that everything was in
proper order, and not until then did he enter the inn in search of food
and fire.

"My mistress?" he asked of August, the head waiter. "Has she been
properly served? His Highness, Prince Karl of Auersperg, will not
forget it if a lady of his family does not receive the deference due to
her."

"Dinner has just been served to the princess," said August,
deferentially, as the chauffeur's tone had been peremptory. "I return in
a moment myself to see that every detail is attended to properly."

"Then look to it," said John, as he slipped a five-kronen piece into his
hand, "and see also that she is not disturbed afterward. Her Highness
wishes a good night's rest."

August bowed low with gratitude and hurried away to do his commission.
John himself, as a man who carried gold, was treated with deference, and
he had an excellent dinner in a dining-room that contained but three or
four other guests. Here in accordance with his plan he talked rather
freely with Herr Leinfelder, and the few servants that the war had left
him.

He enlarged upon the greatness of Prince Karl of Auersperg and the
ancient grandeur of his Castle of Zillenstein. He referred vaguely to
the young princess whom he escorted as a cousin or a niece, and spoke
complacently because he had been assigned to the important duty of
taking her to Trieste. There was need of haste, too. He knew his orders,
and he would start in the morning at the very first breath of dawn. He
was also empowered, if necessary, to fight for her safety. The rifles
and pistols in the automobile were sufficient proof of it, and he had
been trained to shoot by the Prince's head forester, Muller.

Herr Johann Ignatz Leinfelder was much impressed. This young chauffeur
who spoke with such assurance was a fine, upstanding fellow, obviously
strong and brave, the very kind of a man whom a prince like Auersperg
would employ on a duty of such great importance. Hence, Herr Leinfelder
bowed lower than ever, when he spoke to John.

After dinner, the waiter, August, came with word that the princess was
much refreshed and bade her chauffeur come to her apartments for orders.
He found her standin