"You may kiss my hand." She offered me her hand and asked:-- "But what is your news ?" While she spoke I heard voices and the tramping of hoofs beneath the window in front of the inn, and turned to look.

I quickly drew away from the window and beckoned Yolanda:-- "Come here, Fraeulein." She came to my side, and as she looked out upon the road two men emerged from the inn door.

One of them was the Duke of Burgundy.

She clutched my arm and whispered excitedly:-- "Watch them, Sir Karl! Note the road they take! If they go by the right, we shall take the left.

We _must_ reach Peronne Castle before the duke.
Death itself hangs upon the issue, Sir Karl." I watched till the duke and all his people had left the inn; then I followed till I saw them take the road leading down the right bank of the Somme.