While we were discussing the most judicious mode of action--for I scented much mystery in this visit of Karl Krahl--one of the party suddenly discovered, lying upon the ledge of the window, a lady's small and rather elegant handbag of black _moiré_ silk. "Hulloa!" I cried when he held it up for inspection. "This reveals to us one fact--a woman has been here!" I opened the bag, and within found a small lawn handkerchief with a coronet embroidered in its corner, a tiny tortoise-shell mirror, and four one-hundred-mark notes, but no clue whatever as to its owner. The mystery was increasing hourly, but the gay party, knowing "Willie's" susceptibility where the fair sex were concerned, only laughed and declared that His Highness would assuredly turn up before the evening was over. Truth to tell, I did not like the situation. His Highness's disappearance was now known to fifty or so persons, beaters, and others, and I feared lest it might get into the Berlin papers. With that object I called them together and impressed upon them that most complete silence must be maintained regarding the affair. Then Knof drove me alone back to the schloss. I wondered if His Highness, wishing to get away unobserved, returning in secret there, had left me a written message in his room. He had done that on one occasion before. I dashed up to the small, old-world room which by day overlooked the romantic and picturesque valley, but upon the table whereat I had been writing early that morning there was nothing. As I turned to leave I heard a footstep, and next instant saw the little deformed old Countess facing me. Her appearance quite startled me. Apparently she had just arrived, for she was in a dark blue bonnet and warm travelling coat. "Ah! Count von Heltzendorff!" she cried in that squeaky, high-pitched voice of hers. "Is His Imperial Highness here? I must see him immediately." "No, Countess. His Imperial Highness is not here," was my reply. "This afternoon he mysteriously disappeared from the forester's lodge at Neue Schenke, and we are unable to trace him." "Disappeared!" gasped the old lady, instantly pale and agitated. "Yes," I said, looking her straight in the face. "Do you know whether he had a visitor to-day--a young, dark-haired man?" "He had, Countess. A man called, and saw him. At His Highness's request I left him alone with his visitor at the forester's house. The man's name was Karl Krahl." "How did you know his name?" she asked, staring at me with an expression of distinct suspicion. "Because--well, because I happen to have learnt it some time ago," I said. "And, further, on returning to the house we found this little bag in the room wherein I had left the Crown-Prince." "Why!--a lady's bag!" she exclaimed as I held it out for inspection. "Yes," I said in a somewhat hard tone. "Do you happen to recognize it?" "Me? Why?" asked the old woman.