noon
There was nothing for him to do but to turn round with his five thousand Cossacks and march disconsolately across the steppes to an Imperial railroad , where he could embark for home . However , he would visit the Castle in a very informal way , extend his congratulations , offer his services -- which he knew would be declined with thanks -- and profess his unbounded joy in the discovery that Graustark happily was so able to take care of herself . Incidentally , he would mention the bond issue ; also , he would find the opportunity to suggest to the ministry that his government still was willing to make large grants and stupendous promises if any sort of an arrangement could be made by which the system might be operated in conjunction with branch lines of the Imperial roads . And so it was that at noon he rode in pomp and splendour through the city gates , attended by his staff and a rather overpowering body-guard . His excuse for the early call was delicately worded . He said in his reply to the message from the Count that it would give him great pleasure to remain for some time at the Castle , were it not for the fact that he had left his own province in a serious state of unrest ; it was imperative that he should return in advance of the ever-possible and always popular uprising . Therefore he would pay his respects to his serene Highness , renew his protestations of friendship , extend his felicitations , and beg leave to depart for his own land without delay .