"Very likely," said John, "but have no fear. Zillenstein is only six
leagues away at ordinary times, but it's six hundred tonight, with the
greatest storm that I've ever seen sweeping in between us."
He took down the receiver and put it to his ear.
"Who is there?" asked a deep voice, which he knew to be that of Prince
Karl.
"Castel, Your Highness."
"You arrived without accident?"
"Wholly without accident, Your Highness. We reached the lodge a few
minutes before the storm broke."
"The lady, Mademoiselle Lannes, is safe and comfortable?"
"Entirely so. Your Highness. The maid, Suzanne, is preparing her room
for her."
"You found Muller there waiting for you according to instructions?"
Some prudential motive prompted John to reply:
"Yes, Your Highness, he had everything ready and was waiting. I
presented your letter at once."
"You have done well, Castel. Keep the lady within the house, but the
storm will do that anyhow. Do not under any circumstances call me up,
but I will call you again when I think fit. Bear in mind that the reward
of both you and Muller shall be large, if you serve me well in this most
important matter."
"Yes, Your Highness. I thank you now."
"Keep it in mind, always."
"Yes, Your Highness."
His Highness, Prince Karl of Auersperg, replaced the telephone stand
upon the table in his bedroom at Zillenstein, and John Scott hung up the
receiver in the hunting lodge on the mountain.
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