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"Will your highness leave the matter in my hands?" "Herbeck, in some things you are weak." "And in others I am strong," smiled the chancellor. "I am weak when there is talk of war; I am strong when peace is in the balance." "Is it possible, Herbeck, that you do not appreciate the magnitude of the situation?" "It is precisely because I do that I wish to move slowly. Wait.

Ah, could he have flown! He muttered a curse at the chancellor for the delay. But happily Gretchen did not see him. The duke came in first, and he waited till the others were inside; then he shut the door with lesser violence and rushed over to the chancellor. "Herbeck, you villain!" The chancellor stared at the Gipsy, at Von Arnsberg, at Grumbach. "Herbeck, you black scoundrel!" cried the duke.

Presently his hands fell behind his back and met about the paper, while he himself stared over into the royal gardens. He remained in this attitude for some time. "Well?" said the duke impatiently. Herbeck returned to his chair. "I wish that you had shown me these long ago." "To what end?" "You accused the king?" "Certainly, but he denied it." "In a letter?" "Yes. Here, read it."

She has been in Dreiberg for a month, dying, and I have often stolen out to see her." She let her tears fall unrestrained. The duke stared at the rug. Presently he said: "Let her be buried in consecrated ground. Wrong or right, that chapter is closed, my child, and I am glad you made her last moments happy. It was like you. It was like your mother. What is in the letter, Herbeck?"

But do you believe me" putting a hand against his heart "something here tells me that some day fate will drag him back and give him into my hands?" "You are very bitter." "And have I not cause? Did not my wife die of a broken heart, and did I not become a broken man? You do not know all, Herbeck, not quite all. Franz also sought the hand of the Princess Sofia. He, too, loved her, but I won.

"Father, I do not want to marry any one," wistfully. "But a queen!" she added thoughtfully. "It is only a sound, my dear; do not let it delude you. Herbeck advises this alliance, and while I realize that his judgment is right, my whole soul revolts against it. But all depends upon you." "Would it benefit the people? Would it be for the good of the state?" Here was reason.

"You are bidding me farewell, your Highness?" said Herbeck. "No, Count. I would not let you go for half my duchy. What should I do without your solid common sense? No; remain; we are both of us too old to quarrel. Even a duke may be a fool sometimes." Herbeck laid his cold hand upon the duke's.

This will be Arnsberg. But" mildly "who may say that it is not a cunning forgery?" "Forgery!" roared the duke. "Read this one from the late king of Jugendheit to Arnsberg, then, if you still doubt." Herbeck read slowly and carefully. Then he rose and walked to the nearest window, studying the letter again in the sharper light.

"You have me a bit dazed," Carmichael admitted. "I ought to know what this blunder is, to have something to stand on." Grumbach shook his head. "Later every question will be answered. And remember, at this interview Herbeck must not be present. It will have to be broken to him gently." "Very well; I promise to see his highness this afternoon."

Herbeck was a strong man; he was always far removed from tears; but there was a mist over the usual clarity of his vision. He ripped down the flap. It was only a simple note to her serene highness, begging her to give the enclosed banknotes to one Gretchen who lived in the Krumerweg. The notes represented a thousand crowns. "Take them, little goose-girl," said the duke; "your ship has come in.