ssador stopped, grew very white, and stared at the messenger for a
moment in blank unbelief.

The young man now repeated, in English, in a tone that could be heard in
all parts of the hushed room:

"His Majesty, the Emperor Johann Wilhelm, died suddenly to-night, in
Vienna," he said, and gave his arm to his chief.

It was a strange place for the delivery of such a message, and the
strangeness of it was intensified to Shirley by the curious glance that
passed between John Armitage and Jules Chauvenet. Shirley remembered
afterward that as the attache's words rang out in the room, Armitage
started, clenched his hands, and caught his breath in a manner very
uncommon in men unless they are greatly moved. The Ambassador walked
directly from the room with bowed head, and every one waited in silent
sympathy until he had gone.

The word passed swiftly through the great house, and through the open
windows the servants were heard crying loudly for Baron von Marhof's
carriage in the court below.

"The King is dead; long live the King!" murmured Shirley.

"Long live the King!" repeated Chauvenet and Mrs. Sanderson, in unison;
and then Armitage, as though mastering a phrase they were teaching him,
raised his head and said, with an unction that surprised them, "Long live
the Emperor and King! God save Austria!"

Then he turned to Shirley with a smile.

"It is very pleasant to see you on your own ground. I hope your family
are well."

"Thank you; yes. My father and mother are here somewhere."

"And Captain Claiborne?"

"He's probably sitting up all night to defend Fort Myer from the crafts
and assaults of the enemy. I hope you will come to see us, Mr. Armitage."

"Thank you; you are very kind," he said gravely. "I shall certainly give
myself the pleasure very soon."

As Shirley passed on with Chauvenet Mrs. Sanderson launched upon the
girl's praises, but she found him suddenly preoccupied.

"The girl has gone to your head. Why didn't you tell me you knew the
Claibornes?"

"I don't remember that you gave me a chance; but I'll say now that I
intend to know them better."

She bade him take her to the drawing-room. As they went down through the
house they found that the announcement of the Emperor Johann Wilhelm's
death had cast a pall upon the company. All the members of the diplomatic
corps had withdrawn at once as a mark of respect and sympathy for Baron
von Marhof, and at midnight the ball-room held all of the compa