Then I rode to the Metzen. Bernheim had preceded me and, with the manager of the Hotel, awaited me at a side door. The corridor was dimly lighted but I drew my cape well over my face and, is a moment, we were in a small reception room.
"Monsieur Gerst," said I to the manager, "I need your assistance."
Gerst bowed very low.
"Your Royal Highness has but to command," he said.
I was quite sure of that, however. An Archduke of Valeria would have been quite enough, but the Governor of Dornlitz was beyond refusal. I could have closed his Hotel by a word, and there would have been no appeal.
"Thank you, monsieur," I said. "You have as a guest, a certain Madame Armand Dalberg."
"A guest by Your Highness's express permission, you will remember," he said.
"Very true," said I. "Now, this Madame Dalberg expects a visitor to-night at nine o'clock."
He gave me a quick glance.
"You know him?" I asked.