"I decline to tell you, sir," he answered curtly, and I could get no more from him.
Thus, baffled and exasperated, I left the house.
I had gained little or nothing definite by my venture, and yet, despite my disappointment, I was in a sense relieved of some of my anxiety in regard to Minna's safety. Whether she was in the house or not I could not say, and, until I had seen Baron Heckscher, I had not ventured to take any too desperate steps to ascertain; but as I drove back to the house I determined on a much bolder measure to take presently.
I stopped the carriage a little way from the house, and sent back the coachman to wait and watch if the baroness or Minna left the place, and told the man to remain until Steinitz should relieve him. I drove the carriage home, and then despatched Steinitz with instructions to keep a strict watch on any movements from the house, and particularly to follow Minna should she leave the house.
As I knew that I must have a trying day before me, I lay down for an hour or two until the time for my visit to Baron Heckscher.
I arrived at his house just as he was in the act of starting for a meeting of the Council of State, which had been hurriedly summoned.
"I cannot stay to speak to you now, sir. I have to go out," he said shortly.
"On the contrary, you cannot go out until you have spoken to me," I replied, copying his manner.
"This is no time for play-acting," he said significantly. "There are serious matters of State to be settled, caused by your trickery or treachery."
"You are an authority on the latter, at any rate. But I have not come to bandy words. I wish to know where the Countess Minna von Gramberg has been carried, and to demand her instant and unconditional release."