A Great Chance for a Villain It was the custom that the Prefect of Police should send every afternoon a report to me on the condition of the capital and the feeling of the people: the document included also an account of the movements of any persons whom the police had received instructions to watch.

Since I had been in Strelsau, Sapt had been in the habit of reading the report and telling me any items of interest which it might contain.

On the day after my adventure in the summer-house, he came in as I was playing a hand of _ecarte_ with Fritz von Tarlenheim.
"The report is rather full of interest this afternoon," he observed, sitting down.
"Do you find," I asked, "any mention of a certain fracas ?" He shook his head with a smile.
"I find this first," he said: "'His Highness the Duke of Strelsau left the city (so far as it appears, suddenly), accompanied by several of his household.

His destination is believed to be the Castle of Zenda, but the party travelled by road and not by train.

MM De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard followed an hour later, the last-named carrying his arm in a sling.