At first she coughed loudly, for they were puffing smoke everywhere. Then, with a beaming face, she told them how the Queen had just said she was more comfortable than she had been anywhere on her flight.
"Our Queen is an angel!" Hans raised high his glass. "Hoch!" he cried, as the Germans say when they drink to anything or anybody.
"Hoch!" answered the others, but low, that they might not disturb the Queen.
"Long may she live," said the voices.
Then "Three times hoch!" and they clinked their glasses softly and drained them.
Then, it being late, Hans returned to Bettina.
She was fast asleep, one little hand, thin and pale, lying outside the feather bed. On a chair by the bedside were her clothes, clean and dry, and everything quite in order.
Hans, in terror, felt for the letter.
It was safe between the lining and the waist material, and, tired himself, he was soon fast asleep.
Next day they all started forth, Hans and Bettina walking behind the carriage, and presently they came to the ferry at Memel.