"Just so. But if he get word of our being here before him, he may turn back and give us the go-by. So I want half a dozen files detached, and sent off along the Gloucester road, under a trusty officer, in all haste. If they meet him, he's to be made prisoner at once." "It's already done, your Highness." "What! Has Powell been taken?" "No, Prince; pardon me. I meant the detachment has been sent to intercept him. I took the liberty of doing that without your orders. There was not time to communicate with your Highness, unless at the risk of being too late." "True, Colonel, true." "And it would have been too late," he went on to explain in justification of his act. "As your Highness started to join the hawking party, perhaps you may not have noticed a man separating from it, and riding back through the trees?" "_Nein_, Colonel. I did not." "But I did, Prince. He appeared to be one of their attendants--a groom--though in the distance one couldn't be sure what. But from the way he went off I suspected it had something to do with our being seen. Soon as I learnt the other thing, I was sure of it. Besides, shortly after he had passed out of sight behind the firs, I distinctly heard hoof-strokes, as of a horse in full gallop. Putting that and that together it occurred to me he might have gone off to give the very warning your Highness apprehended." "If such were his intent, he may still?" "No, Prince; not likely. He won't be in time. Going out by a back gate he'll have to ride the whole round of the park before he can get upon the Drybrook road, which is that for Gloucester. The detachment started only a few minutes--less than five--after; and on the direct route will easily head him off. They have orders to lay him by the heels, and bring him back here; it's to be hoped the other with him." "_Gott_, Colonel! you've been clever. A capital stroke of strategy. If it fail, I shan't blame you." "Your Highness's approval gratifies me. I think we need not fear failure. At all events the messenger, if such he is, will be stopped, and something will be squeezed out of him as to his errand. I gave instructions that a file be sent back with him, soon as taken. So we may expect seeing him ere long. I suppose your Highness designs to quarter here for the night?" "Any number of nights, Colonel, if one be not enough for accomplishing my purpose." "Half a one will be enough for that, Prince, if you proceed to accomplishing it in the way I would advise you. No timid measures will avail here; only the bold course, which conquest gives a right to, all over the world." Without a blush did the ruffian give utterance to his atrocious counsels; for he knew they were congenial to him into whose ears he was pouring them.