k on his
face which told her the foreboding had not erred.

'News from Vienna, Madame,' he said in a low voice when he reached her
side.

'Tell me quickly what it is,' she whispered back.

'Imperial mandate to his Highness. I know no more; but the messengers are
of rank, and have the Emperor's commands to read the decree to his
Highness in person. I fear it is very serious for you.'

Eberhard Ludwig came up gaily. 'Come, Madame ma femme--come and tread a
measure with me!' Wilhelmine rose obediently.

'Have the messengers shut into the White Hall, make no disturbance here,'
she murmured as she passed Schuetz.

With smiling face and merry jest she danced the sarabande.

'And now, Monseigneur!' she cried in a ringing voice, when the dance
concluded, 'let us end these revels, it grows late! I pray you command
the lackeys to bring the Tokay that we may drink our loving-cup with our
guests!'

The wine was brought and quickly given round.

'My gentle ladies and noble sirs!' called his Highness, 'I drink to your
happiness; I pray you drink to mine!'

The guests raised their glasses, and it was only as they drank that they
saw Eberhard Ludwig bowing before Wilhelmine, and they realised with
dismay that they had toasted her under the title of 'his Highness's
happiness.'

CHAPTER XIII

THE DUCHESS'S BLACK ROOMS

'In God's hands are all things. It is blasphemy to fear.'

THE Imperial decree was uncompromising: 'She leaves your court, this
adventuress, or ill betide her. If you take a mistress, well and
good--that is not in the power of Emperor to forbid; but you have
infringed the Empire's laws by bigamy, Serenissimus, and this we will not
tolerate. The lady must depart; if she goes not, the rigours of the law
will crush her. No more of your mock marriage, no more of your sorry,
sham court.'

Thus the gist of the document which shattered Wilhelmine's hopes and
interrupted her triumph at Urach. But to relinquish her ambition thus
easily, instantly to render obedience to Father Vienna, this was not to
be expected from so potent a lady, nor indeed from Eberhard Ludwig, who,
besides being deeply enamoured, judged his prerogative as an independent
reigning Prince to be threatened by this summary command. Then, too, all
the parasites of the mock court advised resistance; urged it in every
way, for their own existence depended upon the Countess of Urach and the
continuance of her royal retinue.

His High