n any other of my
castles. She will receive an appanage of twenty-five thousand gulden a
year. Gentlemen, you will take part in the festivities here to-day, and
to-morrow I charge you to repair to Stuttgart and to acquaint the
Duchess----' he corrected himself hastily, 'Princess Johanna Elizabetha
with these facts.'

There was a moment's pause. The Geheimraethe looked at one another in
consternation; this was an even more astounding declaration than they had
dreamed his Highness could venture to make. Geheimrath von Hespen, a
devoted adherent of the Duchess Johanna Elizabetha, came forward.

'Your Highness, I speak in the name of my colleagues. This thing you ask
is impossible: law, religion, usage forbid. I solemnly adjure your
Highness to refrain from----'

'Herr von Hespen, I have given you my commands. It remains for me to
inform you of the penalty I impose upon such as are disobedient to me.
All who refuse to carry out my instructions cease to be members of my
Privy Council; those who venture to speak against me or my wife are
guilty of treason. As I think you are aware, the punishment of treason
is death.'

'Monseigneur the Prelate Osiander,' announced the page-in-waiting as he
flung open the door of the Golden Hall. Eberhard Ludwig turned excitedly
to greet the Prelate.

'Osiander,' he cried, 'you have come in time.'

'God grant I have, Serenissimus,' returned Osiander sternly.

'As a priest of God I pray you to tell these gentlemen that those whom
God has joined together no man's power can put asunder!' cried his
Highness.

'That is exactly what I have the duty to remind your Highness,' returned
the Prelate. 'The Duchess Johanna Elizabetha, your wife----' Eberhard
Ludwig started violently; he saw that he had blundered.

'I do not speak of my _late_ wife, Monsieur le Prelat. She is no longer
my wife! She who holds that position is Wilhelmine, Countess of Urach.'

'Impossible, Serenissimus, as long as the Duchess Johanna Elizabetha
lives,' replied Osiander.

'By all the rites of the Church, by the law of God and man, I am truly
wedded to the Countess of Urach!' the Duke answered passionately.

'As long as your Highness lives in mortal sin the Church denies you the
Sacraments. I am the representative of the Church, your Highness, and in
the presence of your Privy Council I pronounce this ban upon you,' said
the Churchman severely.

'Let me remind you that there is another Church. Remember I am Pope