"For what purpose? There must have been an urgent cause to bring
you so far. You are not an American banker?"

"I had intended to ask her to be my wife," he said, knowing that
secrecy was useless and seeing a faint hope.

"You did not find Miss Guggenslocker."

"No. I have not found her."

"And are you going home disappointed, Mr, Lorry, because she is
not here?"

"I leave the answer to your tender imagination."

There was a long pause.

"May I ask when you expect to leave Graustark?" she asked,
somewhat timidly.

"Why do you wish to know?" he asked in turn.

"Because I know how hopeless your quest has been. You have found
Miss Guggenslocker, but she is held behind a wall so strong and
impregnable that you cannot reach her with the question you came
to ask. You have come to that wall, and now you must turn back.
I have asked, how soon?"

"Not until your Princess bids me take up my load and go. You