“Where are you going, Mr. Scott?” exclaimed Julie.  “You will not desert us?”

“Never!”

He was out of the door in a couple of strides, and then he sprang into the automobile.  He had noticed a small garage back of the lodge and he meant to save the machine, feeling sure that they would have need of it later.  In a few minutes it was safely inside with the door fastened so tightly behind him that no wind could blow it loose, and he was back at the lodge with the wind and snow driving so hard that he opened the door but little, and, slipping in, slammed it shut.  Then he turned the heavy key in the lock, and stared in surprise and pleasure at the room.

It was a great apartment, the heavy log walls adorned with the horns and stuffed heads of wild animals.  Several bear skins and other rugs lay upon the oaken floor.  There were chairs and tables with books upon them, and, at one end, the dry wood that filled a great fireplace was crackling and flashing merrily.  The practical Suzanne, noticing the heap, had set a match to it at once, and already the room, great as it was, was filled with warmth and light.  Julie, having taken off her heavy furs, was sitting in a chair before the fire, the leaping flames deepening the light in her eyes and the new rose in her cheeks.

John’s heart swelled with thankfulness and joy.  He had not dreamed that so much could be achieved.  A day before he would have said that it was impossible.  As the whistling of the wind rose to a fierce roar and the snow drove by, he realized, with a shudder at the danger escaped so narrowly, that they had arrived just in time.  The automobile itself would have been driven from the path by the fierce Alpine storm now raging.

The stern but gifted Suzanne had found lamps and had lighted them, and like a capable soldier she was already looking over her field of battle.

“Not so bad,” she said.  “His Highness, Prince Karl of Auersperg, builds a little palace and calls it his hunting lodge.  But his heart would turn black within him if he knew who was one of the guests in it today.”

John smiled, and meeting Julie’s eyes, he smiled again.  He saw a flame there to which his own soul responded, and he tingled from head to foot.  The omens had not been in vain.  The blessings of the righteous had availed.  Again it may be said that he had no faith in the supernatural, at least here on earth, but all things must have worked for him in a world that seemed wholly against him.  He believed that he read such a thought too in the glowing dark blue of her own eyes.

“You are wonderfully right, Suzanne,” said John.  “Probably the Prince of Auersperg had the lodge especially prepared for the coming of Mademoiselle Julie.  Perhaps there is a telephone.”

“Truly there is, Mr. Scott,” said Suzanne.  “Here it is, in the corner.”

“Then,” said John, “it’s very likely that we’ll hear very soon from Zillenstein, and since he has kept your journey secret it is sure to be Prince Karl himself who will call you up.  I must be the one to answer.  Now will you sit here by the fire, Miss Julie, and rest while your most capable Suzanne and I look further into our new residence.  There is no possibility of any caller, save the worthy Muller, to whom I bear a letter from the prince, in which I have no doubt I am highly recommended.”