om.

CHAPTER X.

Courtiers and lacqueys were running about and jostling each other in
confusion and alarm, when colonel Brenner with Arwed mounted the broad
stone steps of the royal palace upon the Ritterholm. With great trouble
they found a valet-de-chambre, who announced them to the princess
Ulrika. As they entered the ante-chamber, the folding doors of the
princess' room opened, and Siquier, with shy glances, brushed past
them. At a motion of the valet they entered the audience room. Ulrika
was standing by a pier-table, upon which lay the king's perforated and
bloody hat, holding, with a decent appearance of grief, a handkerchief
before her dry eyes.

'I have the melancholy honor,' said Brenner, drawing his despatches
from his bosom, 'to present to your royal highness these letters from
your princely husband.'

'Siquier has already informed me of the sad occurrence,' answered
Ulrika, taking the despatch with great coolness: 'nevertheless I thank
you for the zeal with which you have executed the commission of the
hereditary prince.'

'This officer,' continued Brenner, pointing to Arwed, 'was one of the
first who found the hero's corpse. He can inform your royal highness of
all the circumstances accompanying this so wholly unexpected death.'

'Wherefore the details?' cried Ulrika, 'which serve no purpose but to
lacerate my heart. If my maternal love for this land forces upon me the
conviction that this death is fortunate for Sweden, yet will the ties
of blood claim their holy rights--and although I could never boast of
my royal brother's love, yet my heart feels his loss with a sorrow
which needs no additional poignancy.'

At this moment the chief governor, baron Taube, entered the room with a
face in which alarm, feigned sorrow, and ill-concealed joy, struggled
for mastery.

'You know it already, governor?' cried Ulrika, advancing hastily to
meet him.

He silently bowed assent.

'I am confident that in you I have a truly devoted friend,' said she to
him with a gracious stateliness, extending her hand for him to kiss.

'My life for your royal highness!' cried Taube with graceful
enthusiasm, tenderly kissing the proffered hand.

'What should be done first, think you?' she asked him confidentially.

'I advise that the senate should be assembled this evening,' answered
Taube. 'To be sure its numbers are not complete. Three of its members
are with the army as generals