agues regarding the
subjects to be placed before us. I therefore announce to you that we are
prepared to listen."

"I thank you, my Lord of Mayence," began the Prince very quietly. "When
first I had the honor of meeting your three Lordships in the Castle of
Ehrenfels, I signed certain documents, and came to an agreement with you
upon other verbal requests. I am not yet a man of large experience, but
at that time, although comparatively few days have elapsed, I was a mere
boy, trusting in the good faith of the whole world, knowing nothing of
its chicanery. Since then I have been through a bitter school, learning
bitter lessons, but I am nevertheless encouraged, in that for every man
of treachery and deceit I meet two who are trustworthy."

"Pardon me," said Mayence suavely, "I did not understand that the
discourse you proposed was to be a sermon. If your theme is a lecture on
morality, I beg to remind you that this Wahlzimmer is a place of
business, and what you say is better suited to a chapel or even a
church, than to the Election Chamber of the Empire."

"I am sorry, my Lord," said Roland humbly, "if my introduction does not
meet your approval. I assure you that the very opposite was my
intention. My purpose is to show you why a change has come over me, and
in order--"

"Once more I regret interrupting, but the reason for whatever change has
occurred can be of little interest to any one but yourself. You begin by
making vague charges of dishonesty, treachery, and what-not, against
some person or persons unknown. May I ask you to be definite?"

"Is it your Lordship's wish that I should mention names?"

Cologne showed signs of uneasiness; Treves looked in bewilderment from
one to another of his colleagues; the Count Palatine sat deeply
interested, his elbows on the table, massive chin supported by huge
hands.

"Your Highness is the best judge whether names should be mentioned or
not," said Mayence, quite calmly, as if his withers were unwrung. "But
you must see that if you hint at conspiracy and bafflement, certain
inferences are likely to be drawn. Since the time you speak of there has
been no opportunity for you to meet your fellow-men, therefore these
inferences are apt to take the color that reference is made to one or
the other of the three personages you did meet. I therefore counsel you
either to abstain from innuendo or explain explicitly what you mean."

"I the more willingly bow to your Lordship's dec