"No, your excellency, they—they—they were disturbed."
"Disturbed!"
"Did I say disturbed? I meant alarmed—alarmed, mein Herr. Your excellency's escape—for which Heaven be thanked!—caused them to hurry off;—yes, to hurry off, for, of course, they feared the guard from Urach; that is how it was: your excellency understands?"
"Perfectly. And which way did they go?"
"Which way, your excellency?" The man's tone was expressive of the greatest surprise: he was gaining confidence. "How should I know? They galloped away; that was all I knew——"
"Ah! And where did they get the horses?"
"The horses! the horses! Ah yes! the horses." Mine host was now floundering desperately. "Why, of course, they caught the horses and then galloped away—you understand?"
"Excellently. And my horse—you have that in your stable still?"
"Your horse! Yes, of course; it must be there; I will go and saddle it myself for your excellency."
"Not so fast. There is no hurry, my friend. They caught the horses and galloped away. And where are they now?"