oked at his face I saw that, whatever his news might be, it was
certain he had not disturbed me without good cause. The man was more
upset than I had ever yet seen him; his face was as white as the paper
upon which I am now writing, while his hand, when he rested it upon the
table beside which he stood, shook so that the pens upon the pen-rack
trembled and rattled against each other.

"Well, Count, what is the matter?" I inquired. "What brings you here at
this hour of the night?"

"The saddest news possible," he replied. "I scarcely know how to tell
your Highness."

On hearing this a great fear took possession of me. What was I to learn?
Could any disaster have befallen Ottilie? Had that been so, however, von
Marquart would have known it before Strekwitz, and I should have heard
before both; but it was impossible to be logical at such a moment. When
next I spoke I scarcely recognised my own voice, so anxious was it.

"There is nothing to be gained by beating about the bush," I said.
"Whatever your tidings may be, let me know the worst. Have you bad news
concerning the Princess?"

He shook his head.

"No, it does not concern her Highness," he answered, "yet I fear it will
distress your Majesty as much. For my own part, I do not know what to
think."

"For goodness sake, man, get on with what you have to say," I answered.
"Can't you see how you are distressing me? Let me hear your story at
once."

"Your Majesty gave me orders to make the necessary arrangements for the
lying-in-state of your lamented brother."

"I did," I replied. "What of that? I know you better than to imagine
that you have failed in your duties. What has occurred?"

"Your Majesty informed me that you had brought the body from Zaarfburg?"

"I did. And you were present when it was admitted to the cathedral. What
has happened since? Why do you not speak, man?"

"I fear that I must so far contradict your Majesty as to say that I was
not present when it was admitted to the cathedral. A great crime has
been committed. I mean that it cannot be laid in state, _since it is not
there_!"

"Not there?" I cried, springing to my feet, scarcely able to believe
that I had heard aright. "What do you mean by making such a statement?
What makes you say such a thing? Are you not aware that I brought it
with me from Zaarfburg?"

"I venture to say that it is not there," he returned. "The necessary
preparations were made in my presence. On opening the coffin,