“The Lieutenant,” he returned, “has heard family news which compels him to leave for Beroldstein to-night.”
She went pale. “He leaves to-night?”
“That, I wager, is the purport of the letter I have given you. It is settled, and I accompany him.”
The last words were spoken with a touch of triumph, as finally giving the lie to Minna’s suspicions, but she seemed too distressed to notice it. “Oh, how unlucky,” she exclaimed with a troubled look. “But perhaps after all it does not so much matter. There is no harm in telling you what must soon be no secret. The Princess also takes her departure to-morrow. Not of her free will, far otherwise. We are sent by that hateful Chancellor to the fortress of Krell.”
Ompertz opened his grey eyes. “This will be news for the Lieutenant.”
“Oh, the Lieutenant,” Minna cried ruefully. “I begin to wish we had never seen him. It is all through him that we are to be banished to that terrible, dreary, barbarous Castle of Krell. Ugh! We shall die or go mad with melancholy in a fortnight!”
“The fortress of Krell,” said Ompertz with a grimly reminiscent smile. “I know it. It would be a dull place enough for a soldier. But for you and the Princess? No; it is decidedly not a lady’s bower.”
“And now,” she continued petulantly, “when a knight errant is sorely needed, he must needs ride off home—for family reasons. Ah!” she suddenly brightened, “why should not his departure render our horrible exile unnecessary? If only it could be known to the Baron.”
“The Baron,” Ompertz replied dryly, “should be just now in a state of doubt whether our knight errant has not taken his departure for another world. But, gracious Countess,” he continued seriously, “were it not that royal princesses are dangerous game to pursue, since that ugly mastiff, treason, puts his nose in, and spoils the sport, I would suggest a more spirited line of action than a retreat.”
“I dare say you would,” she retorted, “and get us all imprisoned for life, even if we were lucky enough to keep our heads on our shoulders. A month at Krell will be bad enough.”