All this while the knocking was growing more uproarious and more

unlike the staid career of life in such a palace. Scandal was at

the door, with what a fatal following she dreaded to conceive; and

at the same time among the voices that now began to summon her by

name, she recognised the Chancellor's. He or another, somebody must

be the first.

'Is Herr von Greisengesang without?' she called.

'Your Highness - yes!' the old gentleman answered. 'We have heard

cries, a fall. Is anything amiss?'

'Nothing,' replied Seraphina 'I desire to speak with you. Send off

the rest.' She panted between each phrase; but her mind was clear.

She let the looped curtain down upon both sides before she drew the

bolt; and, thus secure from any sudden eyeshot from without,

admitted the obsequious Chancellor, and again made fast the door.

Greisengesang clumsily revolved among the wings of the curtain, so

that she was clear of it as soon as he.

'My God!' he cried 'The Baron!'

'I have killed him,' she said. 'O, killed him!'

'Dear me,' said the old gentleman, 'this is most unprecedented.

Lovers' quarrels,' he added ruefully, 'redintegratio - ' and then

paused. 'But, my dear madam,' he broke out again, 'in the name of

all that is practical, what are we to do? This is exceedingly

grave; morally, madam, it is appalling. I take the liberty, your

Highness, for one moment, of addressing you as a daughter, a loved

although respected daughter; and I must say that I cannot conceal

from you that this is morally most questionable. And, O dear me, we

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>