“Herr Grumbach,” he said quietly, “his excellency the chancellor has directed me to bring you at once to the palace.”

“To the palace?” Grumbach’s face was expressive of great astonishment.  The officer saw nothing out of the ordinary in this expression.  Any foreigner would have been seized with confusion under like circumstances.  “To the palace?” Grumbach repeated.  “My passports were wrong in some respect?”

“Oh, no, Herr; they were correct.”

Grumbach roused his mind energetically.  He forced down the fast beating of his heart, banished the astonishment from his face, and even brought a smile to his lips.

“But whatever can the chancellor want of me?”

“That is not my business.  I was simply sent to find you.  His excellency is always interested in German-Americans.  It may be that he wishes to ask what the future is there in America.  We have more in Dreiberg than we can reasonably take care of.”

“In the prisons?”

The officer laughed.  “There and elsewhere.”

“Is that right?” asked Grumbach, now thoroughly on guard.

“It may not be right to ship our criminals over there, but it is considered very good politics.”

“Shall we go at once?  I never expected to enter the palace of the grand duke of Ehrenstein,” Grumbach added.  “It will be something to tell of when I go back to America.”

The only thing that reassured him was the presence of one officer.  When they came for a man on a serious charge, in Ehrenstein, they came in pairs or fours.  So then, there could be pending nothing vital to his liberty or his incognito.  Besides, his papers were all right, and now there would be Carmichael to fall back on.

“The palace is lighted up,” was Grumbach’s comment as the two passed the sentry outside the gates.

“The duke gives the dinner to the diplomatic corps to-night.”

“A fine thing to be a diplomat.”

“I myself prefer fighting in the open.  Diplomats?  Their very precious hides are never anywhere near the wars they bring about.  No, no; this way.  We go in at the side.”

“You’ll have to guide me.  Yes, these diplomats.  Men like you and me do all the work.  I was in the Civil War in America.”

“That was a great fight,” remarked the officer.  “I should like to have been there.”

“Four years; pretty long.  Do you know Herr Carmichael?”

“The American consul?  Oh, yes.”

“He and I fought in the same regiment.”

“Then you saw some pretty battles.”

Grumbach took off his hat.  “See that?”

“Gott!  That must have been an ugly one.”

“Almost crossed over when I got it.  Is this the door?”

“Yes.  I’ll put you in snugly.  You will probably have to wait for his excellency.  But you’ll have me for company till he appears.”

Grumbach entered the palace with a brave heart and a steady mind.