, for most
likely it would have happened without you."

"But what danger threatens you now?" asked Rosa.

"The just punishment for a traitor," said he, hoarsely. "Give me some
wine, Rosa, so that I can gain strength to go to the king at once."

"To the king at this early hour?"

"And why not? Have I not been with him often at this hour, when I had
important news or dispatches to give him? So give me the wine, Rosa."

Rosa left the room, but returned almost instantly. He took the bottle
from her and filled a glass hastily.

"Now," said he, breathing deeply, "I feel that I live again. My blood
flows freely through my veins, and my heart is beating loudly. Now to
the king!"

He stood before a glass for a moment to arrange his hair; then pressed
a cold kiss upon Rosa's pale, trembling lips, and left the room. With
a firm, sure tread, he hurried through the halls and chambers. No one
stopped him, for no one was there to see him. In the king's antechamber
sat Deesen taking his breakfast.

"Is the king up?" asked Weingarten.

"The sun has been up for hours, and so of course the king is up," said
Deesen, proudly.

"Announce me to his majesty; I have some important news for him."

He entered the king's chamber, and returned in a few moments for
Weingarten.

The king was sitting in an arm-chair by a window, which he had opened to
breathe the fresh summer air. His white greyhound, Amalthea, lay at his
feet, looking up at him with his soft black eyes. In his right hand the
king held his flute.

"You are early, sir," said he, turning to Weingarten. "You must have
very important news."

"Yes, sire, very important," said Weingarten, approaching nearer.

The king reached out his hand. "Give them to me," said he.

"Sire, I have no dispatches."

"A verbal message, then. Speak."

"Sire, all is lost; Count Puebla suspects me."

The king was startled for a moment, but collected himself immediately.
"He suspects, but he is certain of nothing?"

"No, sire; but his suspicion amounts almost to certainty. Yesterday I
was copying a dispatch which was to go that evening, and which was of
the highest importance to your majesty, when I suddenly perceived
Count Puebla standing beside me at my desk. He had entered my room very
quietly, which showed that he had his suspicions, and was watching me.
He snatched my copy from the desk and read it. 'For whom is this?' said
he, in a threatening tone. I stammered forth some excuses;