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Well, they had loosed the lion this time. He had sent his valet to summon her highness and Herbeck. "And tell them to put everything else aside." He kneaded the note in his hand powerfully. It was anonymous, but it spoke clearly like truth. It had been left with one of the sentries, who declared that a small boy had delivered it. The sender remained undiscoverable.
"And fatuous fool that this uncle was, he committed an almost irreparable blunder. He tried to marry his nephew." "I understand. But if you are discovered here?" "That is not likely." "Ah, Ludwig, it is not the expected that always happens. Be careful; you know the full wording of Herbeck's treaty." "Herbeck; there's a man," said Herr Ludwig admiringly. "To have found her highness as he did!"
Suddenly he laughed; but it was the terrible laughter of a madman. There were death and desolation in it. "Come, all of you; you, Gretchen, and you, Hildegarde; come, Carmichael, and you, Arnsberg; all of you! Let us go and pay a visit to our good friend, Herbeck!" The king of Jugendheit, Prince Ludwig, and the chancellor sat in the form of a triangle.
"Count, must I tell you again not to broach that subject? There can be no alliance between Ehrenstein and Jugendheit." "Why?" asked Count von Herbeck, chancellor, coolly returning the angry flash from the ducal eyes. "There are a thousand reasons why, but it is not my purpose to name them." "Name only one, your Highness, only one." "Will that satisfy you?" "Perhaps."
And the thing which struck him with most force was that, while each possessed a beauty individual to herself, it was not opposite, but strangely alike. The goose-girl had returned to her gloomy Krumerweg, the princess had gone to her apartments, and Herbeck to his cabinet. The duke was alone. For a long period he stood before the portrait of his wife.
I could not prove this, so I have been outlawed, with the sentence of death over my head. But to-night I shall leave this palace a free man, and you shall ask pardon for the wrong you have done me." There was no fear in the voice; there was nothing but confidence. The duke glared at the speaker somberly, recalling what Herbeck had often said. "What you say still remains to be proved.
It also recounted the excitement of the following day, the appearance of Gretchen on the steps of the palace, and the great shouting of the people as they acclaimed her the queen of Jugendheit. The second day out Carmichael's first opportunity came. He discovered Herbeck and his daughter leaning against the rail. He watched them uneasily, wondering how he might approach without startling her.
Well, his revenge must have been sweet to him." "But your daughter has been restored to her own." "Due to your indefatigable efforts alone. Ah, Herbeck, nothing will ever fill up the gap between, nothing will ever restore the mother." The duke bowed his head. Herbeck studied him thoughtfully. "I love my daughter and she loves me, but I don't know what it is, I can't explain it," irresolutely.
I took these from the little princess with my own hands. They have never been out of my keeping. Those you have I know nothing about." The duke rubbed his eyes. "My daughter?" "The Princess Hildegarde is not your daughter, Highness," said Hans solemnly. "Gott!" The duke smote the desk in despair, a despair which wrung the hearts of those who witnessed it. "Herbeck! I must send for Herbeck!"
"Have your way, then, but on your head be it if you commit me to anything." The duke was about to gather up his documentary evidence, when Herbeck touched his hand. "I have an idea," said the chancellor. "A great many letters reach me from day to day. I have an excellent memory. Who knows but that I might find the true conspirator, the archplotter? Leave them with me, your Highness."
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