“Fahnrich Wessel,” says I, “do you wish to be a lieutenant some day? Or would you prefer to be a private? I know the sacred value of the regalia as well as you, but there are times when even jewels are unimportant.” (I couldn’t think of one, offhand, but it sounded well.) “So, off with you. I take full responsibility. Indeed, I’ll do better. Give me the keys, and I shall carry them myself.”

That settled it. He clicked his heels, squeaked at his men, and sent them off at the double. He took the keys from his own belt, and passed them to me as though they were red-hot; then he gathered up his sabre and cap and was off, but I called him back.

“Wessel,” says I, in a softer voice. “You are not married?”

“No, highness.”

“But you are perhaps a lover?”

He went pink. “Highness, I….”

“You understand, I think.” I frowned and forced a smile together—one of those grimaces of the strong man moved—and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Take care of her for me, won’t you?”

He was one of those very young, intense creatures of the kind you see addressing heaven in the background of pictures showing Napoleon crossing the Alps in dancing pumps; he went red with emotion.40

“With my life, highness,” says he, gulping, and he snatched my hand, kissed it, and sped away.

Well, that was Ensign Wessel taken care of. He’d cut the whole bloody German army to bits before he let anyone near Irma. Likewise, and more important, he didn’t doubt his prince for a minute. Ah, the ideals of youth, I thought, as I sorted out the keys.

There were three of them; one to the ironwork gate, a second to the door beyond it, and a third to the little cage, shrouded in velvet, which stood on a table in the centre of the small jewelroom. It was so easy I could have cheered. There was a valise in the guard-room, and I laid it open beside the table and went to work.

God, what a haul it was! There were the rings, the staff of sovereignty, the diamond-and-emerald gold chain, the duchess’s collar, and the two crowns—they didn’t have to be bent, after all. The Sword of State I left behind, as too unwieldy, but there were a couple of necklaces I hadn’t seen before and a jewelled casket, so in they went.