"All my mistake, dear," was his reply. "My mistake. Forgive me." "Of course," she said, laughing, and I saw that she had her arm linked in his as they walked back in the direction of the keeper's cottage. I followed in wonder, and not without anger. For the Heir of the Hohenzollerns to ramble upon such rural escapades was, I knew, distinctly dangerous. Exposure might come at any moment. They had strolled together nearly half a mile when of a sudden, as they again passed into the deep shadows, the girl gave vent to a loud scream for help, and at the same moment men's angry voices were heard. The pair had been attacked by three men who had apparently been lying hidden in the wood. I heard a man shout, and then a sharp crack like that of a whip. The Kaiser's son was shouting, too, while the girl was screaming and crying shame upon those who had attacked the man with whom she had been walking. "You infernal German!" I heard one of the men shriek. "I'll teach you to come sneaking here and take my sister out for midnight walks! Take that--you cur--and that!--whoever you are!" Next second the startling truth was plain to me. His Imperial Highness the German Crown-Prince was being ignominiously and soundly thrashed by an irate brother! I saw that it was high time that I interfered. The Crown-Prince had been flung upon the ground, and the angry young man was lashing him as I dashed in among them with my revolver drawn. "Come, cease that," I shouted. "Down with that whip. You've attacked these people on the high road, and if you strike again I'll fire." "Hulloa!" cried one man. "Why, here's another German!" "German or not--enough!" I commanded, and bending down, assisted the fallen Prince to rise. "You--you shall pay for this, I swear!" declared "Willie," angrily facing the man who had struck him. Then, turning to me, he apparently recognized my voice, for he asked--"How in the name of Fate did you come here, Heltzendorff?" "I will explain later," I replied in German. "Let us get out of this." "But I cannot leave Violet. I--I----" He had replied in the same language, which the men apparently did not understand. "Enough; come," I said. Then in English I added, "We will wish these gentlemen good-night." I took his arm and led him away amid the derisive laughter of the irate brother and his two friends, leaving the girl with them. When we were out of earshot I told him of the Emperor's telegram, and added: "That lady was Miss Hewitt, was she not?" "Yes. Her father's estate is a few miles from here. She's a perfect little fiend for opium--got bitten with the habit when she was travelling with her married sister in China, and Maggie, her old nurse, who lives in the cottage we shall pass in a minute, lets her go there on the quiet and smoke. I have had two or three pipes there lately," he added merrily. "_Himmel!_" I gasped. "How dangerous! She has no idea of who you are, I hope?" "Not in the least."