Why ?" "Your coming was announced in advance by our Vienna agent, and accordingly we reserved rooms for you.

But at the same time another guest was also announced, a gentleman of high station from Hungary; and this afternoon word came that this gentleman and all his party had been captured by bandits in the ravine at the foot of Monte Rosso, and carried off into the mountains, where they will have to stay until their ransom is forthcoming.

We feared your excellencies were of the party." "No," said Gabriel; "we came by way of Orvieto." "Lucky for you!" exclaimed the landlord.
"What is the name of the gentleman you refer to ?" asked the princess, in a tone that betrayed the keenness of her interest.
"It's a queer name," answered the landlord, "and I can't remember it.
But I'll find it for you in my letters of advice and send it up to your room." Blanka had hardly laid aside her wraps when a waiter knocked at her door and presented a card on a silver salver.

"Conte Benjamino de Vajdar" was the name she read in the landlord's handwriting.
* * * * * On the following morning, Blanka sent for the hotel-keeper and desired him to procure for herself and her two companions admission tickets to all the sacred ceremonies of the coming week.

The worthy man fairly gasped at the coolness of this request.