how often have I had to admire your perspicacity, your man-like

diligence and fortitude! You know that these are not the words of

flattery; your conscience echoes them; have you spared a day? have

you indulged yourself in any pleasure? Young and beautiful, you

have lived a life of high intellectual effort, of irksome

intellectual patience with details. Well, you have your reward:

with the fall of Brandenau, the throne of your Empire is founded.'

'What thought have you in your mind?' she asked. 'Is not all

ruined?'

'Nay, my Princess, the same thought is in both our minds,' he said.

'Herr von Gondremark,' she replied, 'by all that I hold sacred, I

have none; I do not think at all; I am crushed.'

'You are looking at the passionate side of a rich nature,

misunderstood and recently insulted,' said the Baron. 'Look into

your intellect, and tell me.'

'I find nothing, nothing but tumult,' she replied.

'You find one word branded, madam,' returned the Baron:

'"Abdication!"'

'O!' she cried. 'The coward! He leaves me to bear all, and in the

hour of trial he stabs me from behind. There is nothing in him, not

respect, not love, not courage - his wife, his dignity, his throne,

the honour of his father, he forgets them all!'

'Yes,' pursued the Baron, 'the word Abdication. I perceive a

glimmering there.'

'I read your fancy,' she returned. 'It is mere madness, midsummer

madness. Baron, I am more unpopular than he. You know it. They

can excuse, they can love, his weakness; but me, they hate.'

'Such is the gratitude of peoples,' said the Baron. 'But we trifle.

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