第11章

"There were three Austrians who got in at Vienna," he said. "They are in numbers ten and eleven.""But yes, Monsieur!" the man assented. "As yet I think they are fast asleep. Not one of them has rung for his coffee.""Where are they booked for?""For London, Monsieur."

"You do not happen," Bellamy continued, "to have heard them say anything about leaving the train before then?""On the contrary, sir," the porter answered, "two of the gentlemen have been inquiring about the boat across to Dover. They were very anxious to travel by a turbine."Bellamy nodded.

"Thank you very much. You will be so discreet as to forget that Ihave asked you any questions concerning them. As for me, if one would know, I am on my way to Berlin."The bell rang. The man looked outside and put his head once more in Bellamy's coupe.

"It is one of the gentleman who has rung," he declared. "If anything is said about leaving the train, I shall report it at once to Monsieur.""You will do well," Bellamy answered.

The porter returned in a few moments.

"Two of the gentlemen, sir," he announced, "are undressed and in their pyjamas. They have ordered their breakfast to be served after we leave Munich."Bellamy nodded.

"Further, sir," the man continued, coming a little closer, "one of them asked me whether the English gentleman - meaning you - was going through to London or not. I told them that you were getting out at the next station and that I thought you were going to Berlin.""Quite right," Bellamy said. "If they ask any more questions, let me know."Mademoiselle Idiale, with the aid of one of the two maids who were traveling with her, was able to make a sufficiently effective toilette. At a few minutes before the time for luncheon, she walked down the corridor and recognized Von Behrling, who was sitting with his companions in one of the compartments.

"Ah, it is indeed you, then!" she exclaimed, smiling at him.

He rose to his feet and came out. Tall, with a fair moustache and blue eyes, he was often taken for an Englishman and was inclined to be proud of the fact.

"You have rested well, I trust, Mademoiselle?" he asked, bowing low over her fingers.

"Excellently," replied Louise. "Will you not take me in to luncheon?

The car is full of men and I am not comfortable alone. It is not pleasant, either, to eat with one's maids.""I am honored," he declared. "Will you permit me for one moment?"He turned and spoke to his companions. Louise saw at once that they were protesting vigorously. She saw, too, that Von Behrling only became more obstinate and that he was very nearly angry. She moved a few steps on down the corridor, and stood looking out of the window. He joined her almost immediately.

"Come," he said, "they will be serving luncheon in five minutes.

We will go and take a good place."

"Your friends, I am afraid," she remarked, "did not like your leaving them. They are not very gallant.""To me it is indifferent," he answered, fiercely twirling his moustache. "Streuss there is an old fool. He has always some fancy in his brain."Louise raised her eyebrows slightly.

"You are your own master, I suppose," she said. "The Baron is used to command his policemen, and sometimes he forgets. There are many people who find him too autocratic.""He means well," Von Behrling asserted. "It is his manner only which is against him."They found a comfortable table, and she sat smiling at him across the white cloth.

"If this is not Sachers," she said, "it is at least more pleasant than lunching alone.""I can assure you, Mademoiselle," he declared, with a vigorous twirl of his moustache, "that I find it so.""Always gallant," she murmured. "Tell me, is it true of you - the news which I heard just before I left Vienna? Have you really resigned your post with the Chancellor?""You heard that?" he asked slowly.

She hesitated for a moment.

"I heard something of the sort," she admitted. "To be quite candid with you, I think it was reported that the Chancellor was making a change on his own account.""So that is what they say, is it? What do they know about it - these gossipers?""You were not allowed at the conference yesterday," she remarked.

"No one was allowed there, so that goes for nothing.""Ah! well," she said, looking meditatively out upon the landscape, "a year ago the thought of that conference would have driven me wild. I should not have been content until I had learned somehow or other what had transpired. Lately, I am afraid, my interest in my country seems to have grown a trifle cold. Perhaps because Ihave lived in Vienna I have learned to look at things from your point of view. Then, too, the world is a selfish place, and our own little careers are, after all, the most important part of it."Von Behrling eyed her Curiously.

"It seems strange to hear you talk like this," he remarked.

She looked out of the window for a moment.