"I will show them to your officer," replied Aurora. "Please go and fetch him."
He arrived in due course. He was a kind of blonde giant, very angry at being disturbed in his sleep. When he saw we were civilians, politeness vanished from his questions.
"Lieutenant," said the Grand Duchess dryly, "I must first ask you to stop your men from breaking up my car with their rifle butts. Then perhaps you will be good enough to look at this."
So saying she flashed the lamp upon the Lautenburg arms painted on the door.
The officer started.
"Have I the honour of addressing Her Highness the Grand Duchess of Lautenburg?" he said, stiffening to attention.
"You have, lieutenant," replied Aurora.
"I must ask Your Highness to excuse me," the man said in dismay. "Back there!" he bawled to his men, thrusting back the foremost. "How can I serve Your Highness?"
"Very easily," said the Grand Duchess. "I presume General von Offenburg is still commanding at Thionville? I suspect His Excellency is not asleep on a night like this. Be so good as to take me to him. Lend me one of your men to come with us and show us the way."
The officer at once did what was required. He bowed very low, expressing his regret that his duties did not permit him to conduct us himself.