f his plan. He
thanked the night which hid from the keen eyes of the Emperor--cynical
now, no doubt--the telltale vein beating hard in his forehead.

"Don't you think, Chancellor, that after all, you'd better try and
take me to some more probable, as well as more suitable, place to look
for Miss Mowbray?" he suggested, with a drawl intended to be as
aggravating as it actually was. "There doesn't appear to be any one
about. Even the care-takers are out courting, perhaps."

"But listen, your Majesty," said von Breitstein, when he knocked
again.

Leopold did listen, and heard the ring of a heel on a floor of stone
or marble.

CHAPTER XVIII

NOT AT HOME

It was a jaeger clad in green who opened the door of the hunting lodge,
and gazed, apparently without recognition, at the two men standing in
the dark embrasure of the porch.

"We wish to see his Royal Highness, your master," said the Chancellor,
taking the initiative, as he knew the Emperor would wish him to do.

"His Royal Highness is not at home, sir," replied the jaeger.

Leopold's eyes lightened as he threw a glance of sarcastic meaning at
his companion. But Iron Heart was undaunted. He knew very well now,
that this was only a prelude to the drama which would follow; and
though he had suffered a sharp pang of anxiety at first, he saw that
his Royal friend was playing with commendable realism. Naturally, when
beautiful young actresses ventured into the forest unchaperoned, to
dine with fascinating princes, the least that such favored gentlemen
could do was to be "not at home" to an intrusive public.

"You are mistaken," insisted the Chancellor, "his Royal Highness is at
home, and will receive us. It will be better for you to admit us
without further delay."

Under the domination of those eyes which could quell a turbulent
Reichstag, the jaeger weakened, as his master had doubtless expected
him to do after the first resistance.

"It may be I have made a mistake, sir," he stammered, "though I do not
think so. If you will have the kindness to walk in and wait for a few
minutes until I can inquire whether his Royal Highness has come home,
or will come home--"

"That is not necessary," said the Chancellor. "His Royal Highness
dines here this evening. We will go with you to the door of the
dining-room, which you will open for us, and announce that two
gentlemen wish to see him."

[Illustration: _At sight of her the Emperor stopped on the threshold_]