or your presence
does my heart good; but I must now to the Duke. He is going to sit in
judgment this morning on two prisoners who tried to excite the people
to rebellion against him last night. Who would bet that Beltler was not
already appointed."

"Beltler!" asked Albert, "who is he?"

"He is the executioner, most worthy young friend."

"For heaven's sake! the Duke surely will not stain the first day of his
new government with blood!"

The chancellor smiled bitterly, and answered: "You do honour again to
your excellent heart, but you are not fit to sit in a court of criminal
justice. Examples must be made. One of them," he continued, with a soft
voice, "will be beheaded because he belongs to the nobility, and the
other, being a low fellow, will be hanged. God bless you, my dear
friend!"

With these words the chancellor departed, treading with light step the
long gallery which led to the Duke's apartment. Albert followed him
with a look of contempt and disdain. He had heard that this man
formerly, either by prudence, or, perhaps, rather by an unwarrantable
exercise of artful cunning, had gained great influence over Ulerich: he
had often heard the Duke himself speak of the great confidence he had
in his cleverness in state affairs. He knew not why, but he feared for
the Duke should he put too much faith in the chancellor, for he thought
he could read intrigue and falsehood in his eye.

Just as he saw the hump and flowing yellow cloak turn the corner at
the end of the gallery, a voice whispered to him: "Don't trust that
yellow-faced hypocrite!" It was the fifer of Hardt, who had stolen to
his side unnoticed.

"How! are you there, Hans?" cried Albert, and gladly proffered his
hand. "Are you come to the castle to visit us? that's very kind; you
are more heartily welcome than that humpbacked knave; but what have you
to say of him that I should beware of?"

"He is a false man, and I have warned the Duke not to follow his
advice, which made him very angry with me. He puts his whole confidence
in him."

"But what did he say? Have you seen him this morning?" asked Albert.

"I went to take my leave of him, for I am going home to my wife and
child. The Duke appeared moved at first, spoke of the days of his
exile, and asked me to mention any act of grace he could confer upon
me. But I merited none, for what I have done for him was only paying
off an old debt. I asked him at last, not being able to think of
anything e