l not be one left in your house in an hour's
time,' he sneered.

Her face had grown ashen grey; even through her paint the death-like
colour showed.

'What are you saying?' she cried hoarsely. 'Here, take my purse, all you
will--but tell me quickly--quick, man, tell me!'

At the sight of the heavy golden purse the spy's face and manner changed.
'Serenissimus fell fainting from his horse in the village of Marbach.
They cannot rouse him; the doctors say he will never awaken. They carry
him to Ludwigsburg to die. No one has remembered you yet, but when they
do----!' he flung out his arm in a crushing gesture.

'When they do, they will imprison me till orders come from the new Duke,
you mean? Do you think I care? My place is beside Serenissimus, and I go
to the palace immediately. Go, take the gulden and go.'

She swept from the room, and the spy saw her descending the steps from
the terrace to the garden. Her calm dignity had disconcerted him, and,
after all, he feared the Graevenitzin.

He turned to the bureau; at least, he would look through her papers. But
even in her distress the Landhofmeisterin had remembered to shut and lock
her bureau; and though the spy tried to wrench it open, her Excellency's
secrets were guarded by intricate springs, and the man's efforts were
unavailing.

The Landhofmeisterin walked swiftly down the shady avenue, and into the
palace gardens. She had not passed that way since her departure from
Ludwigsburg, ten days earlier. Her sharp eyes took in various neglected
details. 'If he dies, and I go, the whole place will fall to ruin,' she
murmured.

Great commotion reigned in the castle. She could see that even the
sentries were discussing the Duke's health with a crowd of Ludwigsburg
burghers. They started when they saw the Landhofmeisterin pass through
the courtyard. Involuntarily they fell back into their correct attitudes,
and left the crowd's questions unanswered. The Graevenitz hurried to the
Corps de Logis, but the doors were closed, as had been those on the north
terrace facing La Favorite.

'The doors are locked from inside, Excellency,' said the soldier on
guard. 'Count Graevenitz commanded it.'

'So, is my brother within?' she asked.

'Yes, Madame; and Baron Schuetz, Baron Roeder, and the court physicians.'

They had locked her out, then. Ah! but she had her key of the west
pavilion, and the key of the doors leading to his Highness's
writing-room. She went to her former d