re high
qualities, sir, in a future ruler...."

A faint flush dyed the empress' cheeks; a milder expression suffused the
coldness of her features.

"And what is your advice, professor?" she asked.

"That his highness should take an indefinite rest, ma'am."

"His highness' marriage was fixed for next month," remarked the empress,
in an enquiring tone.

Professor Barzia's face became quite white and rigid.

"It would be simply inexcusable, if his highness' marriage were to take
place next month," he said, with his even, oracular voice.

"Postponed, then?" asked the emperor, with suppressed rage.

"Without doubt, sir," replied the professor, with cool determination.

"My dear professor," the emperor growled between his teeth, with a
pretence of geniality, "you speak of rest and of rest and of rest. Good
God, I tell you, the prince has _had_ rest, months and months of it!...
Do I ever rest so long? Life is movement; and government is movement. We
can't allow ourselves to rest. Why should a young man like the prince be
always resting? I never remember resting like that, when I was
crown-prince! He may not be as strong as I am, but yet he is of our
race! Excitement, you say! Good God, what excitement? Political
excitement? That fell to _my_ share, not the prince's! And I had no need
of rest after it. And has a prince to go and rest when he gets engaged
to be married? Really, professor, this is carrying hygiene beyond all
limits!"

"Sir, your majesty has done me the honour to ask my opinion of the
prince's condition. I have given that opinion to the best of my
knowledge."

"It's rest, then?"

"Undoubtedly, sir."

"But how long do you want him to rest?"

"I am not able to fix a date, sir."

"How long do you want his marriage postponed?"

"Indefinitely, sir."

The emperor paced the room; something unusual passed over his powerful
features, a look of anguish....

"That's impossible," he muttered, curtly.

All were silent.

"It's impossible," he, repeated, dully.

"Then his highness will marry, sir," said Barzia.

The emperor stood still:

"What do you mean?" he asked, gruffly.

"That nothing can prevail with your majesty in this most important
matter ... except your own sense of what is right and reasonable."

The emperor's breath came in short gasps between his full, sensual lips;
his veins swelled thick on his low, Roman forehead; his strong fists
were clenched. No one had ever seen Oscar like