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Updated: June 15, 2025
"But were we in doubt we have the word of the Princess Emma that you are Leopold. Did she not admit it to you, Butzow?" "When she thought his majesty dead she admitted it," replied Butzow. "We gain nothing by discussing the matter," said Maenck shortly. "You are Leopold of Lutha. Prince Peter says that you are mad.
"That before you are many hours older, your highness, you will be queen of Lutha." The Princess Emma turned toward her tardy escort that had just arrived upon the scene. "This person has stopped me," she said, "and will not permit me to continue toward Lustadt. Make a way for me; you are armed!" Maenck smiled. "Both of them are my men," he explained.
At sight of the American the king gave a muffled cry of relief, and then Barney was upon those who held him. A stinging uppercut lifted Coblich clear of the ground to drop him, dazed and bewildered, at the foot of the monarch he had outraged. Maenck drew a revolver only to have it struck from his hand by the sword of Butzow, who had followed closely upon the American's heels.
The slight noise in that quiet room sounded to Barney's ears like the fall of a brick wall. Peter of Blentz stirred, turning in his sleep. Behind him Barney heard one of the men in the other bed move. He turned his head in that direction. Either Maenck or Coblich was sitting up peering through the darkness. "Is that you, Prince Peter?" The voice was Maenck's.
"Don't, your majesty," he implored, "it will but make your position more unpleasant, nor will it add to the safety of the Princess von der Tann for you to strike him now." Barney shook himself free from Butzow, and before either Stein or the lieutenant could prevent had sprung upon Maenck.
To his surprise he met a sword-arm that none might have expected in an American, for Barney Custer had been a pupil of the redoubtable Colonel Monstery, who was, as Barney was wont to say, "one of the thanwhomest of fencing masters." Quickly Maenck fell back to give place to Stein, but not before the American's point had found him twice to leave him streaming blood from two deep flesh wounds.
They told him that they had positive information that the Serbians already had crossed the frontier into Lutha, and that the presence of the Austrian troops was purely for the protection of Lutha. It was not until the morning following the rebuff of Prince von der Tann that Peter of Blentz, Count Zellerndorf and Maenck heard of the occurrence.
Now she looked straight into the fellow's eyes. "Let me pass, please," she said coldly. "I am sorry," replied Maenck with an evil smile; "but the king's orders are that you accompany me to Blentz the king is there." For answer the girl drove her spur into her mount's side.
"Why not let him go?" suggested the trooper, who up to this time had not spoken. "If we don't kill him, we can't be hanged for his murder." "Don't be too sure of that," exclaimed Maenck. "If he goes away and never returns, what proof can we offer that we did not kill him, should we be charged with the crime?
"That Prince Peter of Blentz, Captain Ernst Maenck, and old Von Coblich be tried, convicted, and hanged for high treason," replied the American. "That is easy," said the king. "I should do so anyway immediately I resumed my throne. Now get up and give me my clothes. Take this cot and I will take the bed. None will know of the exchange." "Again you are too fast," answered Barney.
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