But he wished only himself to know where Julie had gone.  He wanted no tattle and gossip about the castle and where there were so many servants and followers it could not be prevented unless they were kept in ignorance.  It would be best to use a stranger, one who was known but little at Zillenstein, and he recalled such a man.  Second thought confirmed first thought and his decision was made.

CHAPTER XII

THE HUNTING LODGE

John passed a troubled night.  He could not yet see his way to follow Julie and Suzanne to the hunting lodge in the manner he wished, and the signs were multiplying that they would soon go.  He had no doubt that the arrival of von Arnheim would hasten their departure.  Auersperg at such a time could not tolerate the attitude of the young prince toward Julie and he would avail himself of what he considered his feudal rights to send her somewhere into the dark at the quickest possible moment.

But Providence was working for John.  His courage and skill which tempted fate were winning new points in his great battle.  Walther told him a little after noon that he was to take him into the presence of the august Prince Karl himself.  In some manner he had fallen under the favorable eye of His Highness who was about to assign him to an important duty.  It was an honor that seldom fell to one so young and ignorant and he hoped that he would conduct himself in a manner to reflect credit upon his superior and instructor, Walther.

John gave his faithful promise but he wondered what the prince could want with him personally and he did not look forward to the interview with confidence.  Perhaps his identity and the nature of his errand had been discovered, and it was merely an easy method of making him walk into the lion’s jaws, but he could not have refused nor did he wish to do so.  His curiosity was aroused and he was willing to meet Auersperg face to face and talk with him.

Cap in hand he followed Walther, also cap in hand, into the interior of the castle.  Auersperg sat in a great room overlooking the valley.  His chair stood on a slightly raised portion of the floor, and he was enthroned like a sovereign.  John, following Walther’s example, bowed low before him.

“You may go, Walther,” said Auersperg.  “I wish to speak alone with this young man.”

The master of the stables withdrew reluctantly, consumed by curiosity, and the young peasant in his rough brown dress stood alone before the prince.  One seemed the very personification of power and pride, the other of obscurity and insignificance, and yet so strangely does fate play with the fortunes of men that the fickle goddess was inclined toward the peasant in the matter that was nearest to the hearts of both.

John, be it said once more, had not the smallest faith in the supernatural, but it often seemed to him afterward that some power greater than that of man moved the prince to do what he was about to do.