nce to the usurpations of the League. His grace is now to be
considered in the light of a new Lord, having subdued the country by
force of arms; and, therefore, as the League instituted their own
peculiar measures, the Duke has a right to follow their example. A new
Lord gives new laws. He has the privilege at all times to govern
according to his own will and pleasure. Shall I dip the pen in the ink,
gracious sir?"

"Sir Chancellor!" said Lichtenstein, with a determined voice, "though I
have all possible respect for your learning and foresight, you advance
that which is positively false, and your counsel is dangerous. The
question now is, to ascertain who it is that the people love. The
League, by their violent measures, have estranged the public mind from
them; this was therefore precisely the most favourable moment for the
Duke to appear in the country, for all hearts are with him; but if you
repel the good feeling of the people by insidious measures, if you
attempt to destroy the ancient laws and institutions, and build upon
their ruins your own invented constitution, oh, beware! beware of the
consequences, and remember that the love of the people is the only
powerful support upon which you can rely."

The Duke stood with folded arms, deep in thought, and made no answer.
With so much more warmth did the chancellor reply: "Hi! hi! hi! where
did you concoct that pretty little speech, my most worthy and highly
honoured sir? Love of the people, did you say? The Romans, in their
day, knew very well what that meant. Nothing but soap bubbles, soap
bubbles! I thought you possessed more acuteness. To whom does the
country belong? Here! here stands Wuertemberg, personified in the Duke!
it belongs to him, he has inherited it; and besides which, he has now
conquered it. The people's love? Bah! it resembles April weather! Had
it been so strong as you talk of, would they have sworn allegiance to
the League?"

"The Chancellor is right!" cried the Duke, starting from his thoughtful
mood. "You may mean well, Lichtenstein, but this once you are in the
wrong. It was my forbearance which caused me to be driven from my
country; now that I am returned, they shall feel that I am the master.
The pen, Chancellor;--I say, it's my will and pleasure, and they shall
obey!"

"Oh! my Lord!" said Lichtenstein, "do not commit yourself in the heat
of passion: wait till your blood cools. Assemble the states, make any
alterations in the constituti