It was Karl. With the warning of his former comrade still ringing in his ears, he came along reluctantly, feeling only too sure that his assistance was required for some purpose which would not bear the light.
As soon as he was near enough to recognise the Princess’s countenance, he said, with a sort of timid insolence—
“I hope your Royal Highness does not want me for long, as I may be summoned at any moment by his Majesty.”
Hermengarde frowned impatiently. She readily divined the weak and timorous character of her instrument.
“It is on his Majesty’s service that I require you,” she answered firmly. “You are to accompany me to the lodge where this Dorothea Gitten dwells.”
Karl’s lingering dread of Johann was still greater than his awe of the Princess.
“Does his Majesty know that we are going there?” he ventured to ask.
Then Hermengarde began to see that something was the matter. By an effort she suppressed her pride for the moment, and condescended to make a half-confidant of the servant.
“I thought you understood by this time, Karl,” she said, “the cause of the interest I take in this matter. Do you suppose that if I regarded it as a mere common love adventure I should take the trouble to go and see this girl? It is because I have fears as to what it may lead to, owing to my knowledge of your master’s character. You are familiar with the fate of King Leopold, and you must see how necessary it is that his friends should watch carefully over King Maximilian, whose eccentricities have already created a wide feeling of apprehension.”
As her meaning slowly penetrated the man’s mind, he fairly staggered.