Part 39 (2/2)

It was surely not the voice and words of one who had come to do murder, and John felt a thrill of recognition.

”Weber!” he exclaimed.

”Yes, it's Weber, Mr. Scott.”

”How under the sun did you get here, Weber?”

”By pretending to be a German. I'm an Alsatian, you know, and it's not difficult. I'm doing work for France. It's terribly dangerous. My life is on the turn of a hair every moment, but I'm willing to take the risk.

I did not know you were here until late tonight, when I came to the chateau to see if I could discover anything further about the numbers and movements of the enemy. You must get away now. I think I can help you to escape.”

There was a tone in Weber's voice that aroused John's curiosity.

”It's good of you, Weber,” he said, ”to take such a risk for me, but why is it so urgent that I escape tonight?”

”I've learned since I came to the chateau that the Prince of Auersperg is much inflamed against you. Perhaps you spoke to him in a way that gave offense to his dignity. Ah, sir, the members of these ancient royal houses, those of the old type, consider themselves above and beyond the other people of the earth. In Germany you cannot offend them without risk, and it may be, too, that you stand in his way in regard to something that he very much desires!”

Although Weber spoke in a whisper his voice was full of energy and earnestness. His words sank with the weight of truth into John's heart.

”Can you really help me to escape?” he asked.

”I think so. I'm sure of it. The guards in the house are relaxed at this late hour, and they would seem needless anyhow with so many sentinels outside.”

”But, Weber, Julie Lannes, the sister of Philip Lannes, is here a prisoner also. She was taken when I was. She is a Red Cross nurse, and although the Germans would not harm a woman, I do not like to leave her in this chateau. Your Prince of Auersperg does not seem to belong to our later age.”

”Perhaps not. He holds strongly for the old order, but the young von Arnheim is here also. His is a devoted German heart, but his German eyes have looked with admiration, nay more, upon a French face. He will protect that beautiful young Mademoiselle Julie with his life against anybody, against his senior in military rank, the Prince of Auersperg himself. Sir, you must come! If you wish to help Philip Lannes' sister you can be of more help to her living than dead. If you linger here you surely disappear from men tomorrow!”

”How do you know these things, Weber?”

”I have been in the house three or four hours and there is talk among the soldiers. I pray you, don't hesitate longer!”

”How can you find a way?”

”Wait a minute.”

He slipped back to the door, opened it and looked into the hall.

”The path is clear,” he said, when he returned. ”There is no sentinel near your door, and I've found a way leading out of the chateau at the back. Most of these old houses have crooked, disused pa.s.sages.”

”But suppose we succeed in reaching the outside, Weber, what then? The place is surrounded by an army.”

”A way is there, too. One man in the darkness can pa.s.s through a mult.i.tude. We can't delay, because another chance may not come!”

John was overborne. Weber was half pulling him toward the door.

Moreover, there was much sense in what the Alsatian said. It was a commonplace that he could be of more service to Julie alive than dead, and the man's insistence deciding him, he crept with the Alsatian into the hall. They stood a few minutes in the dark, listening, but no sound came. Evidently the house slept well.

”This way, Mr. Scott,” whispered Weber, and he led toward the rear of the house. Turning the corner of the hall he opened a small door in the wall, which John would have pa.s.sed even in the daylight without noticing.

”Put a hand on my coat and follow me,” said Weber.

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