It swerved to the east. As Carmichael reached the
fork his horse began to limp. He jumped down and removed the stone. It
was then that he heard the far-off mutter of hoofs. Coming along the
road from Eissen were a trio of riders. Carmichael laughed weakly.
"I swear to Heaven that this is no fault of mine!"
Should he mount and be off before she made the turn? Bah! It was an
accident; he would make the most of it. The bodyguard could easily
vindicate him, in any event. He remounted and waited.
She came in full flight, rosy, radiant, as lovely as Diana. Carmichael
swung his cap boyishly; and there was a swirl of dust as she drew up.
"Good morning, Herr Carmichael!"
"Good morning, your Highness!"
"Which way have you been riding?"
"Toward Jugendheit."
"And you are returning?" With a short nod of her head she signaled for
the two soldiers to fall back.
The two looked at each other embarrassedly.
"Pardon, Highness," said one of them, "but the orders of the duke will
not permit us to leave you. There have been thieves along the road of
late."
Thieves? This was the first time Carmichael had heard of it. The real
significance of the maneuver escaped him; but her highness was not
fooled.
"Very well," she replied. "One of you ride forward and one of you take
the rear.
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