"I'll tell you," he said at length, "I would like for you to go to Vienna
with me and substantiate my story to the emperor. You will say that my
story should need no proof, as I am the ambassador, but Robard has
influential friends there. He would easily discredit the stories of these
two men here. With you it would be different. Will you go?"

"I would rather not, sir," replied Chester quietly.

"I must insist," urged the ambassador.

For some reason that Chester was never afterwards able to explain to
himself, he suddenly grew terribly angry.

"No, I won't go!" he shouted, and waved a fist in the very face of the
ambassador.

The latter looked at him in amazement; then took his decision.

"You shall go anyhow," he said softly. "Seize him, men!"




CHAPTER XV.

INTO AUSTRIA.


"Any time," said the ambassador gently, "that you are ready to give me
your parole, I shall have your bonds removed."