“I approached the inn just in time to see the traitor come forth, and knowing that he was bent upon some devil’s work I followed him to the signal tower.  I did not see you until he started back and then I bided my time.  I was in the bush not ten feet from him while you talked.”

“Lucky for your mistress and lucky for us all that you were, Picard!”

“We must leave Obenstein, your honor, at once!”

“Of course, Picard.  We must take flight in the machine.”

“As it would be hard to explain my presence, your honor, suppose I wait down the road for you.  I’ve already turned the horse loose in the forest.  First I’ll move this from the path lest someone see it and give the alarm too soon.”

He lifted the body of Weber and hid it among the bushes.  Then they separated, John returning quickly to the inn.  He saw a light in Julie’s window and inferring that she had not yet retired he went hastily to her room and knocked on the door.

“Who’s there?” came the brave voice of his beloved.

“It’s John!” he replied, guardedly.  “Open at once, Julie!  We’re in great danger and must act quickly!”

He heard the bolt shoot back, the door was opened, and Julie stood before him, pale but erect and courageous.  Behind her, as usual, hovered the protecting shadow of Suzanne.  John stepped inside and closed the door.

“Julie,” he said, in a whisper, sharp with anxiety, “we must leave Obenstein in fifteen minutes!  Weber is a traitor in the service of Prince Karl of Auersperg!  He followed us to get you back to him!  He has been signaling from a wireless station on the mountain!  A detachment of hussars will be here in three hours!”

Her pallor deepened, but the courage that he loved still glowed in her eyes.

“But Weber?” she said.  “He will stop our flight?”

“He will never harm us more, Julie.  He is dead.”

“You—­”

“No, Julie, I did not kill him.  It was a stronger arm than mine that struck the blow.  Suzanne, your father is waiting for us in the forest.  He has followed us all the way from Munich to Zillenstein, to the lodge, and here to Obenstein.  It was he who sent Weber to the doom that he deserved.”

“Ah!” said Suzanne, and John saw her stern eyes shining.  She was the worthy daughter of her father.

“Put on your cloaks and hoods at once,” said John, “and I’ll have the automobile out in a few minutes!  It doesn’t matter what they think at the inn.  We disregard it and fly.”

Suzanne, quick and capable, began to prepare her mistress and John went down to the innkeeper.  He was so swift and emphatic that the worthy Austrian was dazed, and, after all a princess of the house of Auersperg had a right to her whims.  It was not for him to question the minds of the great, and the heavy gold piece that John dropped into his hands was potent to allay undue curiosity.

The automobile properly equipped was before the main door of the inn within ten minutes.  John helped into it the hooded and cloaked figure of the great lady, and her maid, also hooded and cloaked, followed.  Then he sprang into his own seat, turned the wheel, and the huge machine shot down the road.  But at the first curve it slackened speed, then stopped for an instant beside a dark figure, and when it went on again four instead of three rode.