"Yes, the queen must just have left the station." "Where for ?" I asked, with a shrug for the woman's whim.

"Why, for Strelsau.

She gave no reasons for going, and took with her only one lady, Lieutenant von Bernenstein being in attendance.

It was a bustle, if you like, with everybody to be roused and got out of bed, and a carriage to be made ready, and messages to go to the station, and--" "She gave no reasons ?" "None, my lord.

She left with me a letter to the constable, which she ordered me to give to his own hands as soon as he arrived at the castle.
She said it contained a message of importance, which the constable was to convey to the king, and that it must be intrusted to nobody except Colonel Sapt himself.