With Her Highness's permission I had despatched a reassuring telegram in
the private cipher to the Emperor prefixed by the word "Bathildis"--a
message which, I think, greatly puzzled the local postmaster at
Lochearnhead. Another I had sent to Miss West, and then returned to the
small hotel at the loch-side where I intended to spend the night.
I had left the pair together, and strolled out across the lawn. Of what
happened afterwards I was in ignorance. The girl had come in search of
me a quarter of an hour later, pale, trembling and tearful, and in a
broken voice told me that they had parted.