rself. Those who love Austria must now be
prepared to suffer for her. My blessing, child."

She obeyed the gesture of his hand and followed the High Chamberlain
into the outer corridor.

* * * * *

Marishka's first thought, upon emerging from the palace, was that she
must find Hugh Renwick at once. A new idea of her duty had been born in
her. The importance of keeping this secret of theirs from England had
not seemed as obvious before her visit to Schoenbrunn. The thought of her
lover's possible refusal of her request now seemed appalling. As she
remembered his sober face last night in the automobile, when this topic
had caused her a moment of unhappiness, it seemed that his refusal to
accede to her request was more than possible. She had liked Hugh Renwick
because he was strong, honest, reliable, serious,--qualities she had not
found abundant among the younger men of the ancient families of her
country. She loved him now because, against many obstacles, he had at
last carried her heart by storm. But she realized that the very
qualities she had most admired in him were the very ones that would make
her present task most difficult.

He had given his word not to reveal the secret to his Ambassador without
her permission. That was his promise, given, she knew, grudgingly, and
only because he felt for the moment that her duty took precedence over
his own. But was it, after all, merely a question of precedence? And
would he, now that he had kept his promise so far, insist upon doing his
manifest duty to his own country? Fears assailed her that she might not
be able to prevail. His love for her was untried. How far might she rely
upon it in this inevitable conflict between them? And if he refused her!

The motor car of the Prince carried her to the apartments of the
Baroness Racowitz, where, after a rapidly thought-out explanation of her
sudden visit which seemed satisfactory, she wrote a note to Hugh
Renwick, asking him to come at once to her, addressing it to his
apartments in the Strohgasse and telling the servant if he was not at
home to take it to the Embassy. This note dispatched, her mind somewhat
more at ease, she joined the Baroness at luncheon.

Baroness Racowitz, her father's sister, was a woman of liberal views.
Educated in England, she had absorbed some of the democratic spirit of
the West, and so looked with favor upon the suit of the young Englishman
who had won his way into