It was Weber, the Alsatian, in civilian clothing, his black beard trimmed nicely to a point, his eyes flashing a smile of welcome, as he took off his cap and bowed low to John and Mademoiselle Julie Lannes, but lower to Julie.  John brought his machine down to a slow pace, and there was room for Weber’s by their side in the road.

“You never dreamed of being overtaken by me here,” said the Alsatian, smiling again, and showing his white teeth.

“No,” replied John.  “It never occurred to me that it was you behind us.”

“After all, I am, I think, your good angel.  In your flight with Mademoiselle Lannes you need advice and guidance, and I can give both.”

“You do appear at the most opportune times.  It has become a habit for which I am grateful.”

“It’s not chance that I’m here.  It’s pursuit and design.  You know my duties as a spy, an ugly name, perhaps, but one that calls for daring and patriotism.  Hearing of the council held at Zillenstein by Prince Karl of Auersperg I went there to learn what I could of it.  The information that I was able to secure is in the hands of a confederate now on his way to Paris, and I remained to probe into the mystery of Mademoiselle Lannes’ disappearance.”

“Then you learned of the hunting lodge on the mountain?”

“Very quickly.  I discovered, too, that Mademoiselle Lannes and her maid had been taken away by a young chauffeur, coming from somewhere in Lorraine, who had been only a short time at the castle.  Knowing you for what you are, Mr. Scott, and understanding your devotion, I leaped at once to the conclusion that it was you.  I slipped away as soon as the snow melted sufficiently, and was the first from the outside world to reach the lodge.  The absence of the limousine, the tire tracks leading toward Tellnitz and other evidence at the lodge showed without doubt that my conclusions were right.”

“And you followed immediately?”

“Without delay.  I reached Tellnitz, where you stopped, obtained this light machine and came on at speed.  It will be my pleasure to help as much as I can you and the sister of the great Philip Lannes, the first aviator of France.”

“You left France after we did, Monsieur Weber,” said Julie.  “Did you hear anything of Philip?”

“That he had recovered fully of his wound, Mademoiselle, and that he and the Arrow were once more in the service of his country.  He knows of your abduction by Prince Karl of Auersperg.  A friend, an aviator, Delaunois, furnished him with many facts, and I cannot doubt that he will come over Austria in the Arrow to seek your rescue.”

The eyes of Julie, John and Suzanne, as with one impulse, turned upward.  It seemed to John, for a moment or two, that his vivid imagination could fairly create the slender and graceful shape of Philip’s aeroplane, outlined against the sky.  But the heavens were flawless, a pure, unbroken blue, without speck or stain, and he suppressed a little sigh of disappointment.