up about your Highness's throne.'

'I have heard of it, Herr von Gondremark,' put in the Prince; 'but I have
reason to be aware that yours is the more authoritative information.'

'I am honoured by this expression of my Prince's confidence' returned
Gondremark, unabashed. 'It is, therefore, with a single eye to these
disorders that our present external policy has been shaped. Something
was required to divert public attention, to employ the idle, to
popularise your Highness's rule, and, if it were possible, to enable him
to reduce the taxes at a blow and to a notable amount. The proposed
expedition--for it cannot without hyperbole be called a war--seemed to
the council to combine the various characters required; a marked
improvement in the public sentiment has followed even upon our
preparations; and I cannot doubt that when success shall follow, the
effect will surpass even our boldest hopes.'

'You are very adroit, Herr von Gondremark,' said Otto. 'You fill me with
admiration. I had not heretofore done justice to your qualities.'

Seraphina looked up with joy, supposing Otto conquered; but Gondremark
still waited, armed at every point; he knew how very stubborn is the
revolt of a weak character.

'And the territorial army scheme, to which I was persuaded to
consent--was it secretly directed to the same end?' the Prince asked.

'I still believe the effect to have been good,' replied the Baron;
'discipline and mounting guard are excellent sedatives. But I will avow
to your Highness, I was unaware, at the date of that decree, of the
magnitude of the revolutionary movement; nor did any of us, I think,
imagine that such a territorial army was a part of the republican
proposals.'

'It was?' asked Otto. 'Strange! Upon what fancied grounds?'

'The grounds were indeed fanciful,' returned the Baron. 'It was
conceived among the leaders that a territorial army, drawn from and
returning to the people, would, in the event of any popular uprising,
prove lukewarm or unfaithful to the throne.'

'I see,' said the Prince. 'I begin to understand.'

'His Highness begins to understand?' repeated Gondremark, with the
sweetest politeness. 'May I beg of him to complete the phrase?'

'The history of the revolution,' replied Otto dryly. 'And now,' he
added, 'what do you conclude?'

'I conclude, your Highness, with a simple reflection,' said the Baron,
accepting the stab without a quiver, 'the war is popular; were the ru