"I would that you had made no slip of the tongue, Johann," he murmured.

"Gott, what is going on?
The princess was not to wed, to be sure, but the duchess passed--a king besides--" "Silence!" enjoined Johann.

"Stuler, I am about to venture on a daring enterprise, which, if successful, will mean plenty of gold.

Come with me into your private office, where we shall not be interrupted nor overheard." He vaulted the bar.

Stuler looked undecided.