The Duke gave his chuckling laugh.
“Your Highness has the wisdom of a sage,” he said; “and I advise you to employ it during your sojourn here, in ascertaining just what attitude is likely to be the best for yourself, after the American has been—eliminated.”
And now the anger, which had been burning hotter and hotter, burst into flame.
“Do you fancy, Ferdinand of Lotzen,” she exclaimed, striking a chair with the flat of her sword, “that I would venture into this den without first having made ample provision for our safe return? Around this place, at this moment, stretches a cordon of three thousand soldiers with orders to let no one pass the lines, and if by sunrise I have not returned, to take this Castle by assault and show no quarter. Colonel Bernheim is in command. I fancy you will admit that he will execute the orders.”
“I will,” said Lotzen.
“And if you doubt as to the troops, you can send and——”
“I will admit the troops also, cousin.”
The Princess put the cloth-wrapped book under her arm and stood up.
“Then, if you will clear the doorway, we will depart.”
“Not so fast, my dear,” he smiled; “you seem to have missed the fact that a written command is quite as effective as an oral one; therefore, you will oblige me by taking of the paper and ink on the desk beside you, and inditing to Colonel Bernheim an order to withdraw instantly all the troops to Porgia, and himself to join you here—but first, you will favor me by returning that bundle to the drawer where you got it.”