I remember wondering if Max would be strong enough finally to reach the same conclusion.

If he should be, my faith in Yolanda's powers led me to believe that she would contrive a plan to make him her husband, despite her father, or the devil and all his imps.
There is a power of finesse in the feminine mind that no man may fully compass, and Yolanda, in that respect, was the flower of her sex.

That she had been able to maintain her humble personality with Max, despite the fact that she had been compelled to meet him twice as princess, proved her ability.

Of course, she had the help of good old Castleman and his sweet Frau Kate, serene Twonette, and myself; but with all this help she probably would have failed without the stairway in the wall.
When we left Castleman's, I did not bring up the subject of Mary and Yolanda.

Max walked silently beside me until we had nearly reached the inn, when he said:-- "I am almost glad I was wrong, Karl.