"His Excellency wishes the Countess Strahni to occupy a room upstairs. You will inform one of the upstairs maids that everything is to be done for her comfort. You will also bring to his Excellency's office a note which Countess Strahni will write."
The man bowed, then stood aside while Marishka went out.
"At half-past seven, Countess——"
She nodded over her shoulder to where the German stood with bowed head looking after her.
CHAPTER X
DIAMOND CUTS DIAMOND
Captain Leo Goritz made it a habit to neglect no detail. There was but a little more than an hour of time, but he acted swiftly. At his request the Ambassador procured money, and from the War Ministry the necessary papers, a safe conduct for an officer of the Fifteenth Army Corps, returning to his regiment at Sarajevo with his wife. Graf von Mendel attended to the secret arrangements for their departure from the Embassy and booked the passage. Captain Goritz sat at a desk in a private office, upon which was a small copper teapot above a spirit lamp. The water in the pot was steaming. A servant knocked at the door and brought him a letter.
"Ah! You followed my directions about the paper and ink?"
"As you ordered, Herr Hauptmann. And a maid is with the Countess Strahni."