urs discussing Graevenitz's future. I mean, of course, his
fortune; we always say future when we mean fortune! He vows that if more
gulden cannot be lured into his pocket, he must retire from court. We can
find no way out of our friend's dilemma. Can you suggest some course?'

'Madame, to serve a friend of yours I am always ready! Surely
Serenissimus will not willingly lose a courtier he has delighted in; but
at this moment, I believe, Monsieur de Stafforth will bear me out when I
say all the court charges are engaged; and Monsieur de Graevenitz, not
being of the sex, cannot hold the most important charge of any court, for
Madame de Geyling usurps that! So what can I suggest?'

Madame de Ruth was thoughtful for a moment; then, throwing up her hands,
she exclaimed: 'And you call me a woman with wits? For two long hours
have we deliberated and found nothing, and it needed the punch-bowl to
give me an idea! We want three things, nay, four: to help Graevenitz with
funds; to dethrone that Geyling, whose airs and graces have become
intolerable; Monsieur de Stafforth seeks a friend in the Duke's intimate,
most intimate, council; and our Mother Church desires a friend there
too.' She ticked off each succeeding clause on her much-beringed fingers.

'Monsieur de Graevenitz, you once told me you had a pretty sister wasting
her charms at Guestrow. Let us put her in the Geyling's place! A few years
of that envied position and we achieve our first two objects! Stafforth,
my friend, you are the man to find means of gaining your aims thereby as
well.' The adventurer smiled fatuously. 'And the Church--ah, we forget
the Church!' At these words the mocking smile faded from Zollern's face;
his expression was that of a man whose interest was stirred, as indeed it
was; for though to Monseigneur de Zollern there was nothing sacred, and
he subjected all things to his biting wit, he gave conscientious
allegiance to the Church of Rome, which he regarded as the only faith
fitted for a gentleman. He belonged to the political party desirous of
governing Wirtemberg in conjunction with the Jesuits. No matter that the
people were strict and bigoted Protestants, or that the adoption of Roman
Catholicism would mean the revolt of half the population; he considered
the religious beliefs of burghers to be but pawns in that vast political
game which was being played at that time in Europe, and in Germany in
particular, under the name of religion. Wirtemberg