Since I had
been in Strelsau, Sapt had been in the habit of reading the report and
telling me any items of interest which it might contain. On the day
after my adventure in the summer-house, he came in as I was playing a
hand of _ecarte_ with Fritz von Tarlenheim.
"The report is rather full of interest this afternoon," he observed,
sitting down.
"Do you find," I asked, "any mention of a certain fracas?"
He shook his head with a smile.
"I find this first," he said: "'His Highness the Duke of Strelsau left
the city (so far as it appears, suddenly), accompanied by several of his
household. His destination is believed to be the Castle of Zenda, but
the party travelled by road and not by train. MM De Gautet, Bersonin,
and Detchard followed an hour later, the last-named carrying his arm in
a sling. The cause of his wound is not known, but it is suspected that
he has fought a duel, probably incidental to a love affair.'"
"That is remotely true," I observed, very well pleased to find that I
had left my mark on the fellow.
"Then we come to this," pursued Sapt: "'Madame de Mauban, whose
movements have been watched according to instructions, left by train at
midday. She took a ticket for Dresden--'"
"It's an old habit of hers," said I.
"'The Dresden train stops at Zenda.
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