清晨，一行人到达了比利时城市沙勒罗伊。在皇都酒店，大家向老板的女儿们打听起丹顿夫人伊丽莎白的下落，得知她也许此刻在沃格古堡，于是急匆匆地驱车奔向那里。古堡里的家具古色古香，墙上挂满了画作。等待了许久之后，女伯爵接待了大家。伊丽莎白真的在这座古堡里吗？
The pretty city of Charleroia had suffered little damage from the German invasion，yet many of the townspeople had gone away since the occupation and those who remained kept well within their houses or huddled in anxious groups upon the streets.The civicb affairs were still administered by the Belgian burgomaster，but the martial law of the Germans prevailed over all.
When Patsy Doyle，escorted by Uncle John and accom—panied by Captain Carg，Lieutenant von Holtz and Monsieur Rondel，arrived in the early morning，the streets were comparatively deserted.The Hotel Royal received them hospitably and the landlord and his daughters prepared them an excellent breakfast.
While eating，Patsy chatted with the Belgian girls，who were neat，modest and intelligent.She found that Henderson and Rondel had not stopped at this hotel while in Charleroi，but at a smaller inn at the other end of the town.The girls remembered hearing of their visit and of their inquiries for a Mrs.Denton，but did not know whether they had succeeded in their quest or not.
"We have lived here all our lives，"said the eldest of thelandlord's three daughters，"but we have not known，during that time，any family of Dentons in Charleroi."Patsy reflectedc.
"They were married only five months ago，theseDentons，"said she，"and the young man may have come from some other town.Do you remember that any of your young girls were married about five months ago？"Yes；there was Hildegarde Bentel，but she had marriedAnthony Mattison，who was not a soldier.Could the American mamselle remember what the girl's first name was？
"Oh，yes！"exclaimed Patsy."She signed her letters 'Elizabeth.'"They shook their heads.
"My name is also Elizabeth，"said one."We have many Elizabeths in Charleroi，but none has lately married.""And her husband told me that she was now living here with her mother.""Ah，let us see，then，"responded another."Could shehave been a lady of rank，think you？""I—I do not know.""Is her husband an officer？""No；a private，I believe.""Then we are on the wrong scent，"laughed the girl."I had in mind the daughter of the Countess Voig，whose name chances to be Elizabeth.She was educated at a conventa in Antwerp，and the countess has lived in that city for several years，in order to be nearer her daughter.There was some gossip here that the young lady had married in Antwerp，just after leaving the convent；but we know little of the life of the Voigs becausethey are very reserved.Two or three months ago they returned to their castle，which is four miles to the north of Charleroi，and there they are still living in retirement.Every day the old steward drives into town to visit the post office，but we have not seen the countess nor her daughter since they came back."Patsy related this news to Uncle John，who did notunderstand French.
