Besides, they might take it into their heads to detain him. He
put on his hat. "Good night; and good luck to your leg, Captain."
"Till to-morrow," said von Mitter, who had taken a fancy to the
smooth-faced young American, who seemed at home in all places.
"I am going away to-morrow," said Maurice, pressing the
Lieutenant's hand. "I shall return in a day or so."
He led his horse to the hotel stables, lit a fresh cigar and
promenaded the terrace. "Some day," he mused, "perhaps I'll be
able to do something for myself. To-morrow we'll take a look at
Fitzgerald's affairs, like the good fairy we are. If the Colonel
is there, so much the worse for one or the other of us." He
laughed contentedly. "Beauvais took my warning and lit out, or
his henchman would never have made a botch of the abduction. It
is my opinion that Madame wanted a hostage, for it is impossible
to conceive that the man made the attempt on his own
responsibility. I shall return to the duchy in a semi-official
character as an envoy extraordinary to look into the whereabouts
of one Lord Fitzgerald. Devil take me, but I did make a mess of
it when I slapped him on the shoulder that night.
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