ssly. What are the Osians to you? They are strangers.
You will do for them, and uselessly, what you refuse to do for the woman
you profess to love. I abhor bloodshed. Your honor is the offspring of
pride and egotism. Can you not see the inevitable? War will be declared.
You can not help Leopold; but you can save him the degradation of being
expelled from his throne by force of arms. The army of the duchess is
true to its humblest sword. Can you say that for the army of the king?
Would you witness the devastation of a beautiful city, by flame and
sword?

"Monsieur, Austria is with us, and she will abide with us whichever
way we move. Austria, Monsieur, which is Leopold's sponsor. And this
Leopold, is he a man to sit upon a throne? Is he a king in any sense of
the word? Would a king submit to such ignominy as he submits to without
striking a blow? Would he permit his ministers to override him? Would he
permit his army to murmur, his agents to plunder, his people to laugh
at him, if he possessed one kingly attribute? No, no! If you were king,
would you allow these things? No! You would silence all murmurs, you
would disgorge your agents, you would throttle those who dared to laugh.

"Put yourself in the duchess's place. All these beautiful lands are hers
by right of succession; is she wrong to desire them? What does she wish
to accomplish? She wishes to join the kingdom and the duchy, and to make
a great kingdom, as it formerly was. Do you know why Leopold was seated
upon the throne?

"Some day the confederation will decide to divide all these lands into
tidbits, and there will be no one to oppose them. Madame the duchess
wishes to be strong enough to prevent it. And you, Monsieur, are the
grain of sand which stops all this, you and your pride. Not even a
woman's love--There, I have said it!--not even a woman's love--will move
your sense of justice. Go! leave me. Since my love is nothing, since
the sacrifice I make is useless, go; you are free!" The tears which came
into her eyes this time were genuine; tears of chagrin, vexation, and of
a third sensation which still remained a mystery to her.

To him, as she spoke, with her wonderful eyes flashing, a rich color
suffusing her cheeks and throat and temples, the dim candle light
breaking against the ruddy hair; honor or pride, whichever it was, was
well worth the losing. He was a man; it is only the pope who is said to
be infallible. His honor could not save the king. All