The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-04
With a firm, quick step,

at his own expense, ushered him with
great respect into the state dining room.
Heinrich was pleased at this, for the
thought flashed through his mind that
nowhere could the scene that was to fol-
low be more appropriate than in that
great chamber whore the heroic deed Of
his brave ancestor was commemorated
on the wall On entering the room he
found the grand duke and his prime
minister chatting quietly by the table.
Evidently the affair was TO be merely an
informal one. Perhaps Heinrich was a
little disappointed at this. for he had
thought that the grand duke might have
made a court ceremonial of the affair
and so invested it with more dignity.
But no matter. He was received with
quiet politeness-cool politeness would
perhaps be more accurate.
His serene highness, said the old
baron, "has been graciously pleased to
affix his seal and signature to this doc
ument whereby, in virtue Of the rights
and privileges granted to his house by
the Emperor Conrad Nv, he is author
lied to ennoble any Of his subjects who
have done good service TO the common
veal 1t will now be my pleasing duty
TO countersign it, while you will have
the goodness to place your signature to
the receipt which / have here prepared
for you
There was something so stiff and
even hostile in the smoothness with
which this was spoken that Heinrich's g
face grew very pale. For moment he
suspected treachery.
Twill you allow me, baron, to read
the diplomat"
Certainly said the minister,
spreading it out on the table.
Heinrich, with the quick eye Of a
student, read it from beginning to end.
1t was correct in every form. He felt
sure that not even the forensic acumen
of his friend DIR. Schlippenhammer
could have questioned its validity. He
ran his eye over the receipt which had
been prepared for his signature. and
that also was correct.
The minister handed pen to Helm
rich, and taking another himself they
each signed their names, Heinrich put
ting his TO the receipt, the baron couE-
tersigning the diploma.
Il think that business is finished, I"
said the baron, handing the receipt to
the grand duke.
"Shall now retire?" said Heinrich,
with equal coldness, folding up his di-
ploma and placing it in his breast pocket.
''No, not quite yet, ;" said the old bar
on, glancing quietly at the grand duke.
who all the time had stood silently on
one side, giving an occasional twirl to
his Napoleonic mustache, ''not quite
yet To be candid with you, Herr Won
Muller, this is a mere preliminary to
the real business that we have to discuss
together.
"A preliminary, baron? Pray, explain
| your meaning!'
''I will do so in the fewest possible
words. You, sir, have up to tho present
time had certain heavy claims upon the
house of Wolfsteinberg. Those claims
are now paid off, and it is my painful
| duty 10 charge you with an act of au-
dacity which has determined our sove-
reign to expel you from his dominions. I"
A quiet smile stole over Heinrich 8
face as he said: go on, baron. Pray
go on. :"
eve are not so blind, sir, as to be
unaware of the fact that you have taken
advantage Of your position as the court
tailor -
81 note your sarcasm, baron. Pray 60
on"
"Taken advantage, l say, of your po-
sition to try TO win the affections OF
the Lady Gertrude, an act of insolence
and audacity which is beyond pardon.
/ have only TO say, therefore, in the
name of his serene highness, that with
ont a days delay You must leave the
grand duchy and never venture to show
your face here again. L hope you under
stand me. We will now say good even
ing"
Yes" chimed in the grand duke,
"you are detected intriguer, and
give you fair warning that If you re-
main in my capital more than four and
twenty hours / will order my officers to
expel you by force. "
With another twirl of his mustache
the grand duke marched toward the
door, followed by his prime minister,
"Stay" cried out Heinrich, still
quiet and collected, but with strange
light in his gray eyes. "Your serene
highness has been good enough to ex'
press your views TO me. l have now q
few views to express TO you. Saying
this, he stepped forward quickly and
placed himself between his sovereign
and the door "You will have to hear
me, and you may as well hear me a'
once.
If all the German heroes who were
painted on the wall had jumped down
into tho room, the grand duke and his
minister could not have appeared more
thunderstruck.
"Donner und Blitz!" shouted the
grand duke, laying his hand upon his
sword. "What does this meanY"
lit MEANS your highness, that in the
| last half honr Won and 1 have changed