knew of the fellow and how great my charge was. Three rapid
movements of my hand assured me that letter, box, and revolver
were in their respective places. If Bauer had gone hunting in the
bag, he had drawn a blank. The station-master noticed nothing;
he was stating at the dim gas lamp that hung from the roof. I
turned to him.

"Well, tell him when he comes--" I began.

"He won't come to-night, now," interrupted the stationmaster,
none too politely. "No other train arrives to-night."

"Tell him when he does come to follow me at once to the
Wintenbergerhof. I'm going there immediately." For time was
short, and I did not wish to keep Mr. Rassendyll waiting.
Besides, in my new-born nervousness, I was anxious to accomplish
my errand as soon as might be. What had become of Bauer? The
thought returned, and now with it another, that seemed to connect
itself in some subtle way with my present position: why and
whither had the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim set out from Strelsau
a day before I started on my journey to Wintenberg?

"If he comes I'll tell him," said the station-master, and as he
spoke he looked round the yard.

There was not a cab to be seen! I knew that the station lay on
the extreme outskirts of the town, for I had passed through
Wintenberg on my wedding journey, nearly three years before. The
trouble involved in walking, and the further waste of time, put
the cap on my irritation.