He paused. 'Surely you can see Anton's motives in all of this? And I would say, although I have no experience of children, it seems perfectly normal that now and again Anton wants to prove he is as good as George in every way. You have already mentioned another example of his passion for practical jokes, you saw it on the ferry going to Calais.'
'Were you involved in that too?' Faro asked.
'No. That was one he thought out all by himself. But he confessed later that it had just been to scare George.'
'Not quite the story he has told us, that it was your idea, to test my powers as a detective,' Faro said.
Again no denial came from Dieter, who was watching him carefully. 'Perhaps it is difficult for a foreigner - and a policeman from another country - to understand how things work where kingdoms are at stake.'
Pausing a moment, he said slowly, 'I do not think you have fully realised, Mr Faro, that Anton has a lot to gain, worth fighting for and telling a few lies for, if George should meet with a fatal accident. Bearing this in mind I would advise you not to trust him or listen to all he says. He pretends to be a good friend to George, but - ' he shrugged, 'Anton is a very good actor, he can be very convincing, even shedding tears.'
And Faro remembered that extraordinary emotional scene on the railway track and earlier his tearful Prince Arthur in the scenes from Shakespeare entertainment at Glenatholl.
Who was he to believe? The answer was taken from him by a sudden interruption as the door was flung open as the boys rushed in. They were as taken aback as Faro had been to see Dieter there quite unharmed. As he told them what had happened, the train began to slow down.
George ran to the window. 'Luxoria! Hurray, Anton, we are home!'
The train had stopped. The guard came in and, before he said a word, Faro knew something was wrong.
Chapter 23
'Why have we stopped?' Dieter demanded of the guard.
'There is a change of plan, sir.'
Brushing the guard aside, the head of the State Railway appeared. Bowing, he said, 'We regret the delay, but we have received an urgent message that the train is not to proceed until further notice.'
'What do you mean, not proceed?' demanded Dieter.
Another bow. 'The royal train is to remain here.'
'Remain? For what purpose?'
Not only Dieter looked angry, the two boys were very upset indeed. As for Faro, he felt only despair that his intuition had been right. It had all been too easy and his happy sigh of relief that his mission to Luxoria was over had been somewhat premature. The whiff of danger in the air was not only due to the steam rising from the stationary royal train.
‘I am sure we will not have long to wait, sir,' said the official.
Faro looked out of the window. A small cloud of dust on the horizon revealed itself as a band of horsemen rapidly heading in the direction of the train.
At his side, Anton and George exchanged alarmed glances which Faro shared. Had the so-called brigands caught up with Anton for escaping and stealing one of their horses? Or was George their target? This time there would be no mistake.
Dieter looked over their shoulders and turned quickly to the railway official.
'I insist that the train proceeds through the border. At once. That is the President's command.'
The man shook his head. With considerable dignity he replied 'I regret to say, sir, that, as you are probably aware, our President's commands are not applicable while our locomotive is resting on German soil.' Drawing himself up, he saluted and added, 'These orders are direct from the Imperial Headquarters and it would create an international incident should I have the temerity to ignore them.’
‘Damn your orders,' said Dieter through clenched teeth. 'Obey mine! I am in charge here! Perhaps this will persuade you to change your mind.' And taking a revolver from his pocket he flourished it in the face of the astonished and now terrified official.
Faro only got the gist of what was being said, but it was enough for him to seize Dieter's wrist. 'Why don't you wait and see what is happening out there? Surely a short delay won't make any difference.'
The troop of horsemen was nearer now. Faro sighed gratefully. Those black-and-silver uniforms could never have been mistaken for the red bandanas of Anton's so-called kidnappers.
'Get this train going! Immediately!' shouted Dieter, at the sight of the new arrivals, and Faro had to grasp the arm in which Dieter held his revolver as the reason for his anxiety became clearer.
Were the Hussars intending to kidnap the Luxorian train? Was that why he was so upset? Faro wondered, as he watched the leader of the troop leap on to the engine.
His footsteps came towards them. The door opened to reveal a colonel, splendid in black and silver and wearing a shako with the skull-and-crossbones emblem. It was the uniform of the Death's Head Hussars, Kaiser Wilhelm's crack regiment.
The boys ran towards the newcomer and yelled in unison, 'Uncle Karl!'
The Colonel roared with laughter, put an arm around both lads and sternly nodded towards Dieter, who was still holding the revolver he had been using to threaten the railway official.
Stretching out his hand, the Colonel said sternly, 'You will not be needing that any longer, since you are almost home. You are not in any danger.' He bowed. 'You
