mour
contradicted to-morrow, a considerable disappointment would be felt in
many classes; and in the present tension of spirits, the most lukewarm
sentiment may be enough to precipitate events. There lies the danger.
The revolution hangs imminent; we sit, at this council board, below the
sword of Damocles.'

'We must then lay our heads together,' said the Prince, 'and devise some
honourable means of safety.'

Up to this moment, since the first note of opposition fell from the
librarian, Seraphina had uttered about twenty words. With a somewhat
heightened colour, her eyes generally lowered, her foot sometimes
nervously tapping on the floor, she had kept her own counsel and
commanded her anger like a hero. But at this stage of the engagement she
lost control of her impatience.

'Means!' she cried. 'They have been found and prepared before you knew
the need for them. Sign the despatch, and let us be done with this
delay.'

'Madam, I said "honourable,"' returned Otto, bowing. 'This war is, in my
eyes, and by Herr von Gondremark's account, an inadmissible expedient.
If we have misgoverned here in Grunewald, are the people of Gerolstein to
bleed and pay for our mis-doings? Never, madam; not while I live. But I
attach so much importance to all that I have heard to-day for the first
time--and why only to-day, I do not even stop to ask--that I am eager to
find some plan that I can follow with credit to myself.'

'And should you fail?' she asked.

'Should I fail, I will then meet the blow half-way,' replied the Prince.
'On the first open discontent, I shall convoke the States, and, when it
pleases them to bid me, abdicate.'

Seraphina laughed angrily. 'This is the man for whom we have been
labouring!' she cried. 'We tell him of change; he will devise the means,
he says; and his device is abdication? Sir, have you no shame to come
here at the eleventh hour among those who have borne the heat and burthen
of the day? Do you not wonder at yourself? I, sir, was here in my
place, striving to uphold your dignity alone. I took counsel with the
wisest I could find, while you were eating and hunting. I have laid my
plans with foresight; they were ripe for action; and then--'she
choked--'then you return--for a forenoon--to ruin all! To-morrow, you
will be once more about your pleasures; you will give us leave once more
to think and work for you; and again you will come back, and again you
will thwart what you had no