"
The fellow looked a little puzzled, but at this moment Hermann,
the king's major-domo, came to the door.
"Isn't the constable with you, my lord?" he asked.
"No, the constable remains at the lodge with the king," said I
carelessly, though I was very far from careless. "I have a
message for her Majesty, Hermann. Find out from some of the women
when she will receive me."
"The queen's not here," said he. "Indeed we've had a lively time,
my lord. At five o'clock she came out, ready dressed, from her
room, sent for Lieutenant von Bernenstein, and announced that she
was about to set out from the castle. As you know, the mail train
passes here at six." Hermann took out his watch. "Yes, the queen
must just have left the station."
"Where for?" I asked, with a shrug for the woman's whim. "Why,
for Strelsau. She gave no reasons for going, and took with her
only one lady, Lieutenant von Bernenstein being in attendance. It
was a bustle, if you like, with everybody to be roused and got
out of bed, and a carriage to be made ready, and messages to go
to the station, and--"
"She gave no reasons?"
"None, my lord. She left with me a letter to the constable, which
she ordered me to give to his own hands as soon as he arrived at
the castle.
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