“He should be here at twelve,” said one of the new comers in a low voice and in fairly good English.  The other merely grunted.  There was a silence of some duration, broken by the first speaker.

“If this job fails and you are caught it will mean years of servitude.”

“But in that case we are to have ten thousand gavvos apiece for each year we lie in prison.  It’s fair pay—­not only for our failure, but for our silence,” said the other, whose English was more difficult to understand.

Anguish’s fingers gripped Lorry’s leg, but there was no sound from either of the thoroughly aroused dreamers.  “A plot, as I live,” thought each, with a thrill.

“We must be careful to speak only in English.  There are not twenty people in Edelweiss who understand it, but the night has ears.  It is the only safe tongue.  Geddos speaks it well.  He should be here.”  It was the first speaker who uttered these words, little knowing that he had listeners other than the man to whom he spoke.

A dark figure shot across the roadway, and, almost before the Americans were aware of it, the party numbered three.

“Ah, Geddos, you are punctual.”

“I have found it ever a virtue.” responded the newcomer.

“Have you secured your men?”

“I have, your—­”

“Sh!  Call me Michael, on your life!  They are ready and willing to undertake the venture?”

“Yes, but they do not understand the true conditions.  I have told them that we are to rob the castle and carry the booty to Ganlook before morning.”

“They do not know the real object of the raid, then.  That is as I desired.  Are they trusty and experienced men?”

“The best—­or the worst—­that I could find in Vienna.  Not one understands our language, and they are so ignorant of our town that they are entirely dependent on me.  They know nothing whatever of the Princess, Michael, and will do only as they are told, realizing that if caught they will be guillotined.  I have told them it is the royal palace we are to rifle.  Ostrom, here, and I are the only ones, except yourself and the men who will aid us inside the castle, who know the truth, sir.”

“It cannot fail, unless those inside prove false or unworthy,” said the hoarse-voiced Ostrom.  Anguish’s fingers were gripping Lorry’s leg so fiercely that the blood was ready to burst out, but he did not feel the pain.  Here, then, was some gigantic plot in which the person of the Princess herself was to be considered.  Was it an assassination?

“You have five of these Viennese?”

“Yes.  Two to stand beneath the window to receive the booty as we lower it to the ground, one to stand guard at the west gate and two to attend the carriage and horses in the ravine beyond the castle.”

“When did these men arrive?”

“This morning.  I kept them in my sister’s home until an hour ago.  They are now in the ravine, awaiting Ostrom and myself.  Are you sure, Michael, that the guards and the cook have been made to understand every detail?  The faintest slip will mean ruin.”