The moon shone out now clear and full, so that the road was white with it.

The ground was hard, and we had left no traces.
"Here they come!" whispered Sapt.
"It's the duke!" "I thought so," he answered.
It was the duke; and with him a burly fellow whom I knew well, and who had cause to know me afterwards--Max Holf, brother to Johann the keeper, and body-servant to his Highness.

They were up to us: the duke reined up.

I saw Sapt's finger curl lovingly towards the trigger.

I believe he would have given ten years of his life for a shot; and he could have picked off Black Michael as easily as I could a barn-door fowl in a farmyard.