You're a newspaper man; you ought to
be full of resources. Why don't you telegraph to all the news agencies
and make inquiries? She is a personage, and it will not be difficult
to find her if you go at it the right way."
I followed his advice, and the first return brought me news. Gretchen
was at present in Vienna. So we journeyed to Vienna, futilely. Then
commenced a dogged, persistent search. I dragged my cousin hither and
thither about the kingdom; from village to train, from train to city,
till his life became a burden to him and his patience threadbare. At
Hohenphalia, the capital, we were treated coldly; we were not known;
they were preparing the palace for the coronation of Her Serene
Highness the Princess Elizabeth; the Princess Hildegarde might be in
Brussels. At Brussels Her Highness was in Munich, at Munich she was in
Heidelberg, and so on and so on. It was truly discouraging. The
vaguest rumor brought me to the railway, Pembroke, laughing and
grumbling, always at my heels. At last I wrote to Phyllis; it was the
one hope left. Her reply was to the effect that she, too, did not know
where her sister was, that she was becoming a puzzle to her, and
concluded with the advice to wait till the coronation, when Gretchen
would put in appearance, her presence being imperative.
Pages:
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334