"Ah, the same duty that holds my son in its grip, the call of country, and which by my infirmity of years I may not answer. Not your country, my boy, but your trust, nevertheless. But this is not your last visit by many, I sincerely hope. A Trouville, a Trouville," he muttered, "without fear." "Oh, another thought, you have not broken bread with me." The duke struck a bell on the table at his side. The gorgeous flunky led the way to the smaller of the dining-rooms, the other would have held a regiment, and if the food was plain, on the war basis of all alike, there was a bountiful service of it. From the dining-room windows the Prospekt could be seen, and Henri saw something besides the Prospekt--several horsemen in parti-colored uniforms pacing their mounts slowly up and down in front of the palace. He telegraphed with a wink to his chum, who was seated with his back to the windows. Billy took the tip, and managed to get an overshoulder look on his own account. The interest of the boys as to affairs inside instantly began to flag. True, they were under powerful protection for the time being, but there was a later time coming. The Cossack must have struck the lost chord in his memory. There had since the encounter in the Galician farmhouse been a life added to the claim of the red rider--the duelist that Schneider had forced over the cliff. Henri had a game to play--playing for time. Appeal to their host, for various reasons, did not impress the boy as a desirable proceeding. "There is no need of our going back to Admiralty Place right away, is there, Salisky? We don't sail until morning and we haven't even seen the paintings here." "The paintings"--here was a master stroke. The duke was touched at a point nearest his heart. "You must have at least a passing look," he insisted. Salisky uneasily shook his head. "We have orders to be within call from and after six o'clock, and, sir, it is already very near that hour." "Now, I will tell you what to do, Salisky; you and your comrade here take my car, report yourselves, and if it then be necessary for my young friends to join you, return here for them. It is only the matter of a very few minutes, either way." Protesting under his breath, Salisky and his companion heard the summons for the duke's automobile, and were whirled away in that swift conveyance. They could not understand the action of a company of imperial Cossacks in ranging alongside of the machine, and only withdrawing when the indignant chauffeur sent the machine forward with a vicious plunge. An hour passed, and no word from the departed special messengers. The boys walked with the duke through his magnificent gallery, but it is doubtful if they had any high appreciation of the treat. In every picture they saw a Cossack wrapped in a rainbow.