"Monsieur Gerst," said I to the manager, "I need your assistance."
Gerst bowed very low.
"Your Royal Highness has but to command," he said.
I was quite sure of that, however. An Archduke of Valeria would have
been quite enough, but the Governor of Dornlitz was beyond refusal. I
could have closed his Hotel by a word, and there would have been no
appeal.
"Thank you, monsieur," I said. "You have as a guest, a certain Madame
Armand Dalberg."
"A guest by Your Highness's express permission, you will remember," he
said.
"Very true," said I. "Now, this Madame Dalberg expects a visitor
to-night at nine o'clock."
He gave me a quick glance.
"You know him?" I asked.
"No, Your Highness. I only know madame gave orders to admit no one
to-night except a gentleman who would come at nine."
I nodded. "It's the same," said I. "And what I want, is to hear all
that occurs between Madame Dalberg and this visitor."
Gerst smiled. "That will be easily arranged, Your Highness--the place
is already provided."
"The concealed Gallery?" asked Bernheim, quickly?
"Yes, Colonel." Then, to me, he explained: "Madame's reception room
was once a part of a small, state dining-room.
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