Besides, what is it to me ?" He sought by indirect questions to learn more from them, but they would not continue, seeming to be afraid that they had already said too much.
Then he turned casually from the subject, lest he rouse suspicion, and spoke of his horses.

But all the while he was searching his mind, as one looks for a treasure, to discover how he could follow Julie and Suzanne to their new abode.
He gathered from Walther that the hunting lodge was higher in the mountains in the depths of a great forest, about six leagues from Zillenstein where there was much big game.

In times of peace the prince frequently went there, and a good automobile road led to the lodge, although in winter the snow was often so deep that the place was inaccessible.
Late that afternoon the hoofs of horses beat steadily on the road leading from the valley up to Zillenstein.

John from a coign of vantage saw approaching a young man in a gray German uniform, followed by four hussars, also in German gray.

Anyone who came to Zillenstein was of interest, and as John looked the leading figure became familiar.