“Oh, you can get it, Castel.  The whole kitchen has fallen in love with you.  I found that out last night after you had gone away.  That little Annette told me so.”

“It was to tease you,” said John, who understood at once and who was willing to fib in a good cause.  “I saw her watching through a window a fine big fellow, exactly your size, age and appearance, and with the same name.  I said something about his being a hulking hostler and she turned upon me like a hawk.”

“Now, did she?” exclaimed Jacques, a great smile spreading slowly across his face.

“She did.  Told me it was a poor return for their kindness to criticize a better man.”

“Ah, that Annette is bright and quick.  She can see through a man at one look.  Castel, I like you, and I hope you’ll get to Metz without trouble.  But keep a civil and a slow tongue in your mouth.  Don’t speak until the Germans speak to you, and then tell the truth without stammering.  I’ll go to the kitchen with you, as my work begins early.”

John knew that he had a friend, and the two left the stable together.  But he was not thinking much then of the Gratz farm or of anybody upon it.  He had sent his soul on before, and he meant that his body should catch up with it.

Johanna, Annette and the master, Gratz himself, were in the kitchen.  He ate a good breakfast with Jacques, paid Gratz for food and lodging, and putting his blankets and knapsack upon his back, took once more to the road.  Jacques repeated his good advice to be polite to men to whom it paid to be polite, and Annette, standing by the side of the stalwart hostler, waved him farewell.

The slush, frozen the night before, had not yet melted, and John walked rapidly along the broad firm highway, elated and bold.  Julie had called to him.  He would not reason with himself, and ask how or why it had been done, but he felt it.  He liked to believe that wireless signals had passed between them.  Anyway he was going to believe it, and hence his heart was light and his spirit strong.

He passed sentinels posted along the road, but his passport was always sufficient, and his pleasant manner bred a pleasant manner in return.  Soon there was nothing but a line of smoke to mark where the Gratz farm stood, but he carried with him good memories of it.  He hoped that the romance of Jacques and Annette would end happily.  In truth he was quite sure that it would, and he began to whistle softly to himself, a trick that he had caught from General Vaugirard.

John had no certainty that he would enter Metz, which must now be less of a city than a great fortress with a powerful garrison.  But he felt sure that he could at least penetrate to the outskirts and there find more trace of Auersperg.  A prince and man of his social importance could scarcely pass through the city without being noticed, and there would be gossip among the soldiers.  Fortunately he had been in Metz twice and he knew the romantic old city at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille, dominated by its magnificent Gothic cathedral.  After all he might overtake Auersperg there and in some manner achieve his task.  Chance took a wide range in so great a war and nothing was impossible.