Franz turned out to be right in his conjecture. Not one, but the whole pack of wolves, had taken refuge in the old vaults, no doubt with the intention of making a midnight foray on the cattle and sheep of the village. The unwillingness of the dogs to pass the churchyard in the morning and their uneasiness during the day were fully explained. Five wolves were killed in the churchyard itself, two were run down by the dogs, and two or three made their escape. It was a memorable occasion for the little village, and Gustaf found himself quite a hero, since, but for his curiosity in prying into the vault, the wolves would probably have remained undiscovered. Early on the Sunday morning following the hunt, Philip was in the churchyard. He carried in his hands some bunches and garlands of flowers with which to deck the grave of his little brother. He smoothed and pressed down the turf over the hillock, which had been disarranged by the hunters, and in doing so his hand fell on something hard hidden in the long grass by the side of his grandmother's grave. He drew it forth. It was a gold chain, on which was suspended a jewelled locket containing the portrait of a lady beautifully painted on ivory. The back of the locket was enamelled with sundry heraldic devices which Philip did not understand. He stood for a moment looking at the picture in a kind of ecstacy, for Philip loved everything beautiful with a real passion. Then, hearing voices, he dropped chain and locket into his pocket, and turned again to his work as the two counts, Victor and Maurice, entered the churchyard. "I must take one more look," he heard Count Maurice say, in tones of deep regret. "I cannot bear to give it up." "I fear you will have to do so," answered his brother. "Doubtless both chain and locket have been picked up by some of the boors about here. Your best chance is to offer a reward for it, though I fear it is too late even for that. I grieve over the loss, for it was our only good likeness of our dear mother. Are you sure you had it on the night of the hunt? You know Count Hanau went away the next day, and I think he has those in his train to whose fingers such a trifle might stick easily enough." "Yes, but I am quite sure that I had it.—Well, my boy, what will you have of me?" For Philip had drawn near, and, hat in hand, was evidently waiting to be spoken to. "Is it a locket and picture that Your Highness has lost?" asked Philip, modestly. "Yes, a locket and picture of a lady. Have you heard of any such thing being found?" Philip took the chain and picture from his pocket and placed it in its owner's hand. "I found it just now in the grass by my brother's grave," said he. "I thought it might belong to some one at the Schloss." "And what would you have done if you had not found the owner, my boy?" asked Count Victor, for Maurice was for the moment too happy in his recovered treasure to say a word.