"I may be able to satisfy but one--curiosity. And maybe not that. But who knows of Graustark?"
"Don't give up before you've tried. If these people live in such a place, why, it is to be found, of course. Any railroad guide-book can locate this land of mystery. There are so many infernal little kingdoms and principalities over here that it would take a lifetime to get 'em all straightened out in one's head. To-morrow morning we will go to one of the big railway-stations and make inquiries. We'll locate Graustark and then we'll go over and pluck the flower that grows there. All you need, my boy, is a manager. I'll do the arranging, and your little act will be the plucking."
"Easier said than done."
"She threw a kiss to you, didn't she?"
"Certainly, but, confound it, that was because she never expected to see me again."
"Same reason why you threw a kiss to her, I suppose?"
"I know why; I wasn't accountable."
"Well, if she did it any more wittingly than you did, she is accountable, and I'd hunt her up and demand an explanation."
Lorry laughed at his apparent fervor, but was glad that he had confided in his energetic countryman. Two heads were better than one, and he was forced to admit to himself that he rather liked the idea of company in the undertaking. Not that he expected to encounter any particular difficulty, but that he saw a strange loneliness ahead. Therefore he welcomed his friend's avowed intention to accompany him to Edelweiss as a relief instead of an annoyance. Until late in the night they discussed the coming trip, Anguish finally startling him with a question, just as he was stretching himself preparatory to the walk to his hotel.
"What are you going to do with her after you find her, Gren, old man?"
Grenfall's brow puckered and he brought himself up with a jerk, puzzled uncertainty expressing itself in his posture as well as in his face.
"I'll think about that after I have found her," he replied.
"Think you'll marry her?" persisted the other.
"How do I knew?" exclaimed the woman hunter, savagely.
"Oh, of course you don't know--how could you?" apologized Anguish. "Maybe she won't have you--maybe she is married--all sorts of contingencies, you know. But, if you'll pardon my inquisitiveness, I'd like to ask why you are making this wild goose chase half around the world? just to have another look at her?"
"You asked me if I thought--" Here he stopped.
"I take it for granted, then, that you'd like to. Well, I'm glad that I've got something definite on which to base operations. The one object of our endeavors, from now on, is to exchange Guggenslocker for Lorry--certainly no robbery. A charity, I should say. Good-night! See you in the morning."