He had replied in the same language, which the men apparently did not understand.
"Enough; come," I said. Then in English I added, "We will wish these gentlemen good-night."
I took his arm and led him away amid the derisive laughter of the irate brother and his two friends, leaving the girl with them.
When we were out of earshot I told him of the Emperor's telegram, and added:
"That lady was Miss Hewitt, was she not?"
"Yes. Her father's estate is a few miles from here. She's a perfect little fiend for opium—got bitten with the habit when she was travelling with her married sister in China, and Maggie, her old nurse, who lives in the cottage we shall pass in a minute, lets her go there on the quiet and smoke. I have had two or three pipes there lately," he added merrily.
"Himmel!" I gasped. "How dangerous! She has no idea of who you are, I hope?"
"Not in the least."
"Good. Let us attend to the Emperor's telegram at once."
And a quarter of an hour later we were discussing the Kaiser's inquiry in a clean, comfortable, but out-of-the-way cottage in which "Willie" had established himself so as to be near the pretty girl for whom he had conceived that passing fascination.