“Otto, who else… von Bismarck—he allows me to call him Otto sometimes.”

“Go on—the gold?”

“He said some of it goes as far back as to be part of the missing Hohenzollern treasure from the days when Albert of Brandenberg created the duchy of Prussia. That was years ago, you know, Baron, during my grandmother’s time, I believe.”

In truth, the duchy of Prussia was created in 1525, easily three or four generations before the construction of the present house and three hundred years before Eppie’s grandmother’s day.

“And the count is after the gold, you say?” asked the baron, speaking in hushed tone as well.

“Oh yes. He lusts to possess it all—the gold, the estate, all the land of Pomerania. He always has. The baron would have had to kill him eventually, but Otto discovered his treachery first, an even greater treachery to all of Prussia, and had to kill him.”

“Do you know where the dungeon is located, Eppie?” asked the baron.

“Of course, don’t you?”

“I seem to have forgotten, it has been so long. Could you take me there?”

“Of course,” replied Eppie, trying to rise immediately out of her chair. “You will have to bring a light, Baron,” she said. “It is exceedingly dark, you know.”

“Yes, that much I do recall about the place.”

The baron glanced around at the others, now all wearing expressions of anticipation and looking out of eyes as wide as Eppie’s own. Then he rose, gave Eppie his hand, assisted her in getting to her feet, and said, “Here, Eppie, take my arm. I will lead the way as far as I am able, then I will let you take the lead. Marion,” he added, turning to his wife, “if you will fetch us a candle.”

The others all rose quietly, no one breathing a word lest they break Eppie’s spell, and followed the baron and Old Eppie from the room. They slowly made their way to the grand stair case, down to the ground floor, and to the south parlor. There the baron gingerly and with sturdy strong hands assisted Eppie down the old stone stairway. This was more than anyone had expected, and even the baron could hardly contain himself over a hope that perhaps the legends were true after all! She seemed to possess her wits and from occasional comments knew very well where they were going.

In another ten minutes the small group stood in the dark underground corridor directly below the south parlor.