ve that a group
of students cheered His Royal Highness yesterday as he rode past the
University buildings."

"Socialism at twenty," said the King, "is only a symptom of the unrest
of early adolescence. Even Hubert"--he glanced at the picture--"was
touched with it. He accused me, I recall, of being merely an accident, a
sort of stumbling-block in the way of advanced thought!"

He smiled faintly. Then he sighed. "And the others?" he asked.

"The outlying districts are quiet. So, too, is the city. Too quiet,
sire."

"They are waiting, of course, for my death," said the King quietly. "If
only, you were twenty years younger than I am, it would be better." He
fixed the General with shrewd eyes. "What do those asses of doctors say
about me?"

"With care, sire--"

"Come, now. This is no time for evasion."

"Even at the best, sire--" He looked very ferocious, and cleared his
throat. He was terribly ashamed that his voice was breaking.. "Even at
the best, but of course they can only give an opinion--"

"Six months?"

"A year, sire."

"And at the worst!" said the King, with a grim smile. Then; following
his own line of, thought: "But the people love the boy, I think."

"They do. It is for that reason, sire, that I advise particular
caution." He hesitated. Then, "Sire," he said earnestly, "there is
something of which I must speak. The Committee of Ten has organized
again."

Involuntarily the King glanced at the photograph on the table.

"Forgive me, sire, if I waken bitter memories. But I fear--"

"You fear!" said the King. "Since when have you taken to fearing?"

"Nevertheless," maintained General Mettlich doggedly, "I fear. This quiet
of the last few months alarms me. Dangerous dogs do not bark. I trust no
one. The very air is full of sedition."

The King twisted his blue-veined old hands together, but his voice was
quiet. "But why?" he demanded, almost fretfully. "If the people are fond
of the boy, and I think they are, to--to carry him off, or injure him,
would hurt the cause. Even the Terrorists, in the name of a republic,
can do nothing without the people."

"The mob is a curious thing, sire. You have ruled with a strong hand.
Our people know nothing but to obey the dominant voice. The boy out
of the way, the prospect of the Princess Hedwig on the throne, a few
demagogues in the public squares--it would be the end."

The King leaned back and closed his eyes. His thin, arched nose looked
pinched. His fa