"Then the sooner it is smoothed away the better," I interrupted.
"I will send you word where to find her. But, first, there are certain matters which must be set straight."
"I don't trust your agents, baron; you had better understand that. What is to be done must be done to-day."
"I am as anxious as you can be for haste. There is more to apprehend from delay than you appear to think. At any moment we may have some interruption from Berlin. But I can say no more now. If you return to the Gramberg house and hold yourself in readiness to start, I will communicate with you at the earliest possible moment. I can do no more. At this instant I myself do not know the exact whereabouts of the countess. She was taken last night to Herr Schemmell's house, close to town here, and early this morning was to have been removed—almost directly after your visit, indeed, of which I was, of course, informed—and was to be taken to his country-seat near Landsberg. But until I know that she has arrived there it would be folly for me to send you out. Those who have charge of her are to use their discretion as events may require."
"I will wait till I hear from you," I said, and as a last word asked, "You say she has been told that I am not her kinsman, the Prince von Gramberg?"
"Certainly. And probably the tale has been garnished with abundant details. The Baroness Gratz is no friend of yours."
"And von Nauheim?"
"If he is well enough he may have gone after them. I cannot say."
"If there is any wrong done to her, I shall set it to your account," I cried passionately, for this news of von Nauheim filled me with rage.
With this I left him, the fear that von Nauheim might even yet be able to deal some treacherous blow haunting me.