"Does that surprise you?" she continued. "Do you call what you have just told me important or not? Now this is what I think. One person can suffer from a delusion. It's highly improbable that two will. At midnight, my friend, I shall knock at your door. Then you will have an opportunity of proving your knowledge of secret springs. You understand, now? Now, Melusine, go and order the car for four o'clock. I've twice postponed my call on the good Burgomaster's wife, and I mustn't break my word a third time."
There was so much authority in this order that Melusine went, casting a long, imploring glance in my direction.
"Poor little girl," said the Grand Duchess. "That look gives me into your care. Midnight, you understand, without fail."
"Madame," I said firmly, "I'll do anything your Highness wishes. I understand your resolution. Indeed, I can only approve it. May I just make two remarks? First, that it would be much better for me to come and fetch you rather than that you should run the risk of meeting some one in the corridors of the castle. In the second place, you should know that the watch make their rounds at midnight. They may be a little early tonight, and it is most advisable to avoid any chance of being disturbed in so delicate an enterprise as ours."
"Very well," she said. "What then?"
"With your permission I'll be here at half-past ten. An hour will give us plenty of time. Fräulein von Graffenfried can stay in your apartments and receive any callers."
She smiled:
"If by that you mean Hagen, jealous young man, you may as well know that he's due at his mess tonight, for one of those drinking-bouts for which any good German would gladly sacrifice the Loreley."
"Hagen or another," I said, with a shade of irritation in my voice. "We must provide for all emergencies."
"You're right, dear friend," she said gravely. "Then I'll expect you at half-past ten."