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but maybe we are being over-anxious. We may find that Krnov is much more up-to-date than we expect and all our fears are groundless.”
    â€œThat is the news I hope to take back to His Royal Highness,” replied Pieter. “But from what I gathered from the envoy who brought us the Prime Minister’s request, who I understand will be meeting us at the border, things are even worse than we have heard already.”
    â€œI thought maybe you would get him to talk, Pieter. He was too frightened of Papa to give him the information he wanted and he thought I was far too young and frivolous to be interested in anything serious!”
    Pieter laughed.
    â€œIt is because Your Royal Highness is so pretty few people realise what a clever brain you have.”
    â€œWell, we don’t want them to be aware of that too quickly in Krnov. If they do believe I am just a superficial young woman, they will not be guarding their tongues. We want to know the worst as speedily as possible.”
    â€œThat is what His Royal Highness has said, but I am afraid it may take longer than he hopes.”
    â€œWe can only do our very best and I would like to tell you how very pleased I am, Pieter, to have you with me and to be able to rely on you.”
    â€œI promise I will not fail Your Royal Highness.”
    They drove on and as they approached the border, the country became a little wilder.
    Not far away was a range of low mountains where many minerals were mined that contributed so much to the great prosperity of Opava.
    The same range extended into Krnov and as far as Zoleka had been able to ascertain, nothing was being done about them on their side of the border.
    The Krnovians had not employed, as her father had done, experts from all over Europe to find out which minerals the mountains actually contained.
    â€˜How can they be so incredibly stupid?’ she asked herself now, seeing the mountains stretch out into the far distance, the sunshine dazzling on their peaks.
    As they crossed the border, she saw that this part of Krnov was very like her own country, but it seemed to be almost uninhabited. The people they did see were poorly dressed and their cottages were in a bad state of repair.
    As Anton Bauer had said, the inn where they were to have luncheon was just a short distance from the border.
    They drew up outside it at exactly one o’clock and Anton was there to meet them.
    He stared in a mixture of amazement and surprise at the Princess’s Escort with the Count riding ahead of her carriage.
    As Zoleka stepped out, he bowed and greeted her to the Principality of Krnov.
    â€œAre you alone?” she asked in an astonished voice.
    â€œI was asked to meet Your Royal Highness,” Anton replied, “because we had met before, but I did not know that Your Royal Highness would be expecting a Mounted Escort.”
    Zoleka gave a little cry.
    â€œBut, of course, I always have one! Papa would not think of letting me drive about without one.”
    As Anton looked somewhat crestfallen, she added,
    â€œNever mind. My Escort, which is commanded by Count von Hoffmannstall, will, of course, take me to your Palace.”
    As they were talking they were moving towards the door of the inn.
    Zoleka could see in the courtyard that there was a carriage drawn by only two horses.
    She stopped and exclaimed,
    â€œI have an idea! As they will not be expecting me to arrive so quickly as I would with four horses, I think it would be wise if you went back now to inform the Prime Minister, the Lord Chamberlain, and of course Her Royal Highness Princess Udele, that I will be arriving sooner than they expect.”
    She continued in a more considerate tone of voice,
    â€œI am sure that they would be very upset if I arrived before they were ready to receive me.”
    She recognised as she spoke from the expression on Anton’s face that the Prime Minister had not considered it necessary to receive her and the same