The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-23
CHAPTER y.
Affairs of state.

forth with a rum bIe as OF ulstaht
thunder He would search the very
deeps Of this matter. He was of Il
natient mold, but this was the final
straw. lie would have his revenge II
II upset the whole continent. They
would play with him. Ell ? Well, they
had fooset1 the Non this time. He had
sent his valet to summon her high
ness and -Herbeek.
And tell them to put everything
else aside
He kneaded the note in his hand
powerfully. 1t was anonymous, but
Il spoke clearly Ike truth. 1t had
been left with one OF the senties,
who declared that small hoy had
delivered II. The sender remained
undiacoyerable.
His highness had Just that hour
returned from the military field. He
was tired; and Il was not the psy-
geological moment for q thing like
this to turn up Had he not opposed
II for months? And now, having
surrendered against hts better judg-
ment. this gratuitous affront was Of
fered him! 1t was damnaeie He
smetA the offending note He would
soon fnd otH whether il was true or
! not. Then ne flung the thing violent
w to the floor. But he realized that
this hurst Of fury would not trans
late the muddle. SO he stopped and
recovered the missive~ He laughed,
but the laughter had grim Homcric
sound, War Nothing less. He was
prepared fog It, Twenty thousand
troops were now in the valley, and
there were twenty thousand reserves.
What Franz Josef Of Austria or Will
liam Of Prussia said did not amount
10 the snap of his two fingers. To
n 5yylu Of ha 60 long
endured OF Jugendhelt, to wipe out
the score with blood Did they think
that he was in his dotage, TO offer
an insult of this magnitude They
should see, aye. that they should! II
did not matter that the news reach
ed him through subterranean chan
neis or by treaehery, there was truth
here. and that sufiiced
Enter" he cried, as some one
Knocked on the door.
Herbeck came in. as calm. as i'm
periurbable as ever.
Your highness sent for me-
Il did. Why the devil couldn't
you have left Well enough alone?
Read thisl" Ringing the note down
on his desk
Herbeck picked 1t up and worked
ont the creases. When he had read
10 the final word. his hand, even as
the dukes, closed systematically over
the stir paper.
We'll ?" The query tingied with
rage
The answer on the ehancellor's
lips was not uttered. Hildegarde
came In She blew a kiss at her
father, who caught the hand and
drew her toward him. He embraced
her and kissed her brow.
what is 1t. father"
Herbeck waited.
Read satd the duke.
AS the last word left Herbecks
lips. she slipped from her fathers
arms and looked with pity at the
chancellor.
What do you think Of this. Hide
garde?"
''T1rhy . father, think Il is the very
best thing in the world" dryly.
IAN insult like this" The duke
grew rigid. you accept il calmly.
in this fashion,
Shall weep and tear my hair
over boy / have never seen? No
thank you. / was about to make
known TO you this very evening that
] had reccnsidered the offer. / shall
never marry his majesty"
"A fine time!" The dukes hand
trembled. Why. in Gods name, did
you not refuse when the overtures
were first nader The truth. Her
> beck, the whole truth; for there Is
something more than this"
Herbeck, in few words and with
out evasion, explained the situation.
Your highness, the regent Is real
ly not to blame. for his majesty had
given him free rein In the matter.
and his royal highness, working as |
have been for the best interests Of
the two countries, never dreamed that
the king would rebel. All my heart
and all my mind have been work
Ing toward this end. toward great
er peace and prosperity. The king
has been generous enough TO leave
the publicity la our hands; that rs
70 say. he agrees TO accept the hu-
initiation OF being rejected by her Sc
rene highness."
THAT In very generous of him"
Raid the duke sarcasticaIly. Send
1or Ducwitx."
sDucwftz. your highness? ?" cried
The chancellor, chilled.
.sIntnset4iateiyi,.
nthcr.'a
Must give an order twice?'
Your hfghnsss, If You call Due
Wits ] shall surrender my portfolio
% yOu" The chancellor spoke with
Cnt anger, quietly but firmly.
do 80. There are others to take
np your work :" The duke. for the
mcsnent had thrown reason to the
N4ndA Revenge. the ciamor OF re-
aas8nsM Hsn ali tina syafca ~ ha~rd