"I have put some money and a revolver in the pocket of your coat. You can get anywhere with those." Aurora was just beauty itself then, my friend. If you'd only seen her at that moment you'd understand why I can't control my voice at this point. There was a dull roar under the window. The _Benz_ was there. "Come," said Aurora. At that moment Hagen came in. His air of sullen annoyance had deserted him now, I can tell you. He fell at the Grand Duchess's feet. "You are going! You are going with him, for ever!" he murmured with a sob in his voice. She looked at him more kindly. "If that is your idea, Herr von Hagen, it is all the more praiseworthy of you to have obeyed. You may know, however, that I'm not going. I'm bound to this place which I loathe by the task that still lies before me. But for the moment my duty is to save him who has given up everything for me." "Oh, thank you! thank you!" said the young man. "You had better wait a bit before thanking me," she said. "I presume, Herr von Hagen, that you have your identity card and mobilization orders on you?" He rose, quivering with horror. "My mobilization orders?" he repeated, deadly pale. "Yes," she said calmly. "Oblige me by handing them over to Monsieur Vignerte. We might be stopped between here and the frontier. Of course I know that in all probability I shall only have to mention my name to get through. But we might come across some stupid sentry. We must not lose any time. Lieutenant von Hagen will be able to get anywhere. Come. Quick!" The officer was white as death. A terrible conflict was raging within him. "You are now taking my honour from me, Madam!" he blurted out at length. "I should only be taking back what I gave you myself, Herr von Hagen," said Aurora, pitilessly. "But you mustn't exaggerate. It will be your own fault if you are compromised. I ask but two things of you. First that you wait until ten o'clock to give the alarm that we have gone. Secondly, that you arrange matters so that they shall think we have taken the Aix-la-Chapelle route. If the Grand Duke is shameless enough to telegraph or telephone it must not be in our direction. Come. Good-bye. I shall be back by this time tomorrow." She held out a hand which he bathed with his tears. "I may count on you, friend, mayn't I?" Choking with emotion, he nodded. I myself was utterly overcome and went forward to offer my hand to the man who was risking everything for me at that moment. But he started back and replied with a look of unutterable hatred. "Monsieur, I pray God that we may meet again elsewhere--and soon." Aurora shrugged her shoulders, and I heard her murmur something about the stupidity of men. But she was already on the stairs. I followed her, but not before I had had one last look at her room with its rugs, its jewels, and its glorious, fading flowers. "Get in," she said in a low voice. I climbed into the great car and we started off.