plot in which the person of the Princess herself was to be
considered. Was it an assassination?

"You have five of these Viennese?"

"Yes. Two to stand beneath the window to receive the booty as
we lower it to the ground, one to stand guard at the west gate
and two to attend the carriage and horses in the ravine beyond
the castle."

"When did these men arrive?"

"This morning. I kept them in my sister's home until an hour
ago. They are now in the ravine, awaiting Ostrom and myself.
Are you sure, Michael, that the guards and the cook have been
made to understand every detail? The faintest slip will mean
ruin."

"They are to be trusted fully. Their pay is to be high enough
to make it an object to be infallible. The guard, Dushan, will
leave the gate unwatched, and you will chloroform him--with his
consent, of course. You will enter, as I have explained before,
crawl along in the dark shadow of the wall until you reach the
arbor that leads to the kitchen and scullery. Here another
guard, Rabbo--known to Ostrom as a comrade in Her Royal
Highness's service not more than a year ago--will be
encountered. He will be bound and gagged without the least
noise or struggle. Just as the clock strikes two the cook will
walk past the scullery window, in the basement, thrice, carrying
a lighted candle. You will see this light through the window,