They were the last people in the world whom I could turn away from my door. There might have been a chance to put them up for the night and still avoid disclosures, had not circumstance ordered that the Countess and I should be working in the garden at the very moment that brought them pounding at the postern gates. Old Conrad opened the gate in complete ignorance of our presence in the garden. (We happened to be in a somewhat obscure nook and seated upon a stone bench--so he must be held blameless.) The quartette brushed past the old man and I, hearing their chatter, foolishly exposed myself. I shall not attempt to describe the scene that followed their discovery of the Countess Tarnowsy. Be it said, however, to the credit of Elsie and Betty Billy, the startled refugee was fairly smothered in kisses and tears and almost deafened by the shrill, delighted exclamations that fell from their eager lips. I doubt if there ever was such a sensation before! * * * * * * * They brought rather interesting news concerning the Count. It appears that he and the baron had quarrelled and at the time of my friends' departure from Vienna it was pretty generally understood that there would be a duel. "I never liked the baron," I said, with a grim smile that could not have been misinterpreted, "but I hope to heavens _he_ isn't killed." Mrs. Titus sighed. "Tarnowsy is regarded as a wonderful marksman." "Worse luck!" growled Colingraft, gloomily twiddling his thumbs. "What kind of a shot is the baron?" asked Jasper Jr., hopefully. No one was able to enlighten him, but Billy Smith shook his head dolefully. "Maris Tarnowsy is a dead shot. He'll pot the baron sure." "Hang it all," said I, and then lapsed into a horrified silence. When the Hazzards and Smiths departed the next morning they were in full possession of all of our plans, hopes and secrets, but they were bound by promises that would have haunted them throughout all eternity if they allowed them to be violated. I do not recall having seen two more intensely excited, radiant women in my life than Elsie and Betty Billy. They were in an ecstatic state of mind. Their husbands, but little less excited, offered to help us in every way possible, and, to prove their earnest, turned the prow of the motor-boat down-stream, abandoning the trip up the river in order to be in Vienna in case I should need them for any purpose whatsoever. "You may rest easy so far as I am concerned, Mrs. Titus," said the young diplomat. "As a representative of the United States government I can't become publicly involved in this international muddle. I've just _got_ to keep my lips sealed. If it were discovered that I knew of all this, my head would be under the snickersnee in no time at all. Swish! Officially suicided!"