“Excellent!” I cried. “Then summon the ministers at once—you’d better get dressed first—and send these people”—I indicated his followers—“to wait upon the duchess.”

It was going to be like a galloping field day at he apartments, but the more of them were out of the way the better.

“Above all,” says I, “try to communicate as little disquiet as possible. Now set about it, if you please.”

He gathered himself up, and shooed away the crowd.

“And yourself, highness?” he quavered. “You are going into danger? But you will take a strong escort with you?”

“No,” says I, “the fewer who see me go, the better.” That was God’s truth, too. “Not another word, sir. For the duchess’s sake, do as I have bidden you.”

“You will have a care, highness?” he pleaded. “I beg of you. For her sake—and for our country’s. Oh, but must you go?”

I was almost bursting with anxiety, but I had to humour the senile bastard.

“Sir,” says I, “have no fear. Briefly as I have been in Strackenz, I owe a debt to this duchy already, and I intend to pay it in full.”

He drew himself upright and straightened his night-cap. “God bless you, highness,” says he, all moist and trembling. “You are in the true mould of the Oldenbourgs.”

Well, from what I’ve seen of European royalty, he may well have been right. I gave him my manliest smile, pressed his hand, and watched him totter away to guard the destiny of the duchy, God help it. He was going to have his work cut out.

As soon as he was round the corner I heaved out my valise, adjusted it over my shoulder by a strap, and pulled my riding-cloak over that side. The swag had a tendency to clank as I walked, so I paced slowly down the broad staircase and across the hall; the little major-domo was waiting, hopping in anxiety. There was a horse at the door, he pointed out, and its saddle-bags were packed. I thanked him and walked out into the morning.

There were guardsmen there, of course, and a couple of officers all agog at the rumours that must have been flying about. I instructed them to post their men at the palace railings, and to let no one pass without my orders—with any luck they might blow Sapten’s grizzled head off when he arrived. Then I mounted, very carefully, which is damned difficult to do when you have a stone or two of loot swinging under your cloak, took the reins in my free hand, and addressed the officers again:

“I ride to Jotunberg!”