A man came from a courtyard within, and opened a small gate, which formed a part of the great one. He seemed to be a servant. Mr. George asked him in French if they could come in and see the castle. The man smiled and shook his head, but at the same time opened the door wide, and stood on one side, as if to make way for them to come in.
"He says no," whispered Rollo.
"No," replied Mr. George, "his no means that he does not understand us; but he wishes us to come in."
As Mr. George said these words, he passed through the gate, leading Minnie by the hand, and followed by Rollo.
The man shut the gate after them, and then began to say something to them, very fluently and earnestly, pointing at the same time to a door which opened upon a gallery that extended along the wall of a tower near by. As soon as he had finished what seemed to be some sort of explanation, he left the party standing in the court, and returned to his work.
"He says," remarked Mr. George, "that there is a man coming to show us the castle."
"How do you know?" asked Rollo.
"I know by the signs that he made," replied Mr. George. "Besides, I heard him say schloss-vogt."
"What is schloss-vogt?" asked Rollo.
"That was the ancient name for the officer who kept the keys of a castle," replied Mr. George, "and in restoring this castle they thought they would reëstablish the old office. So they call the man who keeps the keys the schloss-vogt."