into
pieces on the stony ground.

"Marshal," began General Kronau, "I respect your age and valiant
services. That is why we have come thirteen miles. You may keep your
sword, and also Monsieur the prince. For the present you are prisoners."

For a moment the Marshal was stupefied. His secret fears had been
realized. Suddenly a hoarse oath issued from his lips, he dragged his
saber from the scabbard, raised it and made a terrible sweep at the
General. But the stroke fell on a dozen intervening blades, and the
Marshal's arms were held and forced to his sides.

"Kronau... you?" he roared. "Betrayed! You despicable coward and
traitor! You--" But speech forsook him, and he would have fallen from
the horse but for those who held his arms.

"Traitor?" echoed Kronau, coolly. "To what and to whom? I am serving my
true and legitimate sovereign. I am also serving humanity, since this
battle is to be bloodless. It is you who are the traitor. You swore
allegiance to the duke, and that allegiance is the inheritance of the
daughter. How have you kept your oath?"

But the Marshal was incapable of answer. One looking at him would have
said that he was suffering from a stroke of apoplexy.

"I admit," went on the General, not wholly unembarrassed, "that the
part I play is not an agreeable one to me, but it is preferable to the
needless loss of human life. The duchess was to have entered Bleiberg
at night, to save us this present dishonor, if you persist in calling
it such. But his Highness, who is young, and Monseigneur the archbishop,
who dreams of Richelieu, made it impossible. No harm is intended to any
one."

The prince, white and shivering as if with ague, broke his sword on the
pommel of the saddle and hurled the pieces at Kronau, who permitted them
to strike him.

"God's witness," the prince cried furiously, "but your victory shall
be short-lived. I have an army, trusty to the last sword, and you shall
feel the length of its arm within forty-eight hours."

"Perhaps," said Kronau, shrugging.

"It is already on the way."

"Your Highness forgets that Carnavia belongs to the confederation, and
that the king, your father, dare not send you troops without the consent
of the emperor, which, believe me, will never be given;" and he urged
his horse down the slope.

The army of the duchess had now gained the open. The advance was
composed of cavalry, which came along the road with wings on either
side, and with great dash an