er empty
antehall which, but a few days earlier, had been filled with a bowing
crowd of courtiers. She was almost surprised to find Baron Schuetz
awaiting her as usual in the 'Landhofmeisterin's business-room,' that
small room on the ground floor of the west pavilion whence for twenty
years had issued the ruling orders of Wirtemberg. She worked as she had
done each morning for many years. Sitting at the large middle table she
transacted the business of the Dukedom. Beside her was a pile of
unwritten papers signed at the bottom of each page by Eberhard Ludwig. It
was only needful to write any decree above his Highness's signature, to
affix his seal beneath, and to add her own official name 'W. von
Graevenitz-Wuerben, pro Landhofmeister Wirtembergs,' to make the writing an
unassailable, all-powerful, official document. Gradually things had come
to this pass. The Duke preferred hunting, shooting, riding, to affairs of
State, and in the course of years the Graevenitz had succeeded in grasping
complete, autocratic power. There was no one to hinder her; her brother
was Prime Minister in name, but he was forced to bring each important
matter to her, for she represented his Highness.

The Geheimraethe were one and all her creatures; the Duke refused to
meddle, and if he expressed a wish, it was so promptly and ostentatiously
carried out that he never realised how entirely he had ceded the reins of
government to his mistress. To the Landhofmeisterin's working-room came
the officers of the Secret Service, bringing their reports on the doings
of all Wirtembergers of high or low estate, each report of value being
carefully noted and locked away in the wire-protected shelves which
furnished the walls.

The Landhofmeisterin laboured, according to habit, on the morning after
the banquet, and if she detected a freer tone in the heretofore
obsequious Schuetz's voice, a shade of insolence in his manner, she gave
no sign thereof. If anything, she was more haughty, more dictatorial than
ever.

'I am retiring to La Favorite for a few days' rest, Baron Schuetz,' she
said, when the affairs of the day were accomplished; 'you will bring me
any business which it is necessary for me to consider. I shall have these
with me'--she tapped the signed pages--'the seal I shall also have with
me. As I am fatigued, I shall not work longer this morning. Au revoir,
Baron.' He was dismissed.

'Your Excellency would do well to leave me the signatures. I m