will happen to him in mine!' replied
Selpdorf smiling.

'There is but one thing that could happen to him under military law in
any country. He will be shot!' said Elmur pleasantly, then added with a
sudden uncontrolled irritation, 'And that too is picturesque.'

The Chancellor spread out his hands.

'What will you, my dear Baron? It is also conclusive. Besides, we shall
have gained our point. The fellow's breach of faith is our point.
Valerie will be disillusioned; for recollect, I pray you, that Valerie
is in love with honour.'

CHAPTER XXIII.

HOW RALLYWOOD HAD HIS ORDERS.

Unziar had already departed to the Frontier on a secret errand when
Rallywood started for the Chancellerie through the slush and fog. It was
yet early in the afternoon, and an hour when the Duke sometimes drove
out. As Rallywood trotted along the embankment by the river, he saw the
outriders of the Duke's carriage coming towards him.

Gustave of Maasau happened to be alone, and, to indulge the humour of
the moment, he beckoned the young man to the side of the carriage and
spoke a few words to him. He took a pleasure in the Englishman's frank
readiness.

'I have to thank you for your energy in the matter of Colendorp,' he
began. 'We have, however, decided to leave the whole affair in abeyance
for the present. So M. Selpdorf has sent for you. What for?' he added
with the curiosity of an idle man.

'I do not know, sire.'

'Now I remember, he did mention something about--well, well, we have
worse enemies in the State than the Chancellor,' he wandered on, for he
had had an interview during the morning with Selpdorf, and was more than
half persuaded to place himself once more unreservedly under that able
direction. For Selpdorf had almost succeeded in lulling his suspicions,
and in luring him back to the old comfortable habit of believing in a
false peace. He half regretted the doubts he had lately entertained of
his Prime Minister, and was weakly willing to disabuse the Englishman's
mind of prejudice. He did not know that Rallywood was quite unaware of
Selpdorf's connection with the Sagan plot. 'The excellent Selpdorf is
unsparing of his agents,' went on the Duke in vague connection, 'but he
is also unsparing of himself. Therefore see that you obey him loyally.
For me, he does what he wills with me.' He laughed and raised his hand
by way of dismissal.

Rallywood went on wondering what the Duke meant to convey by this praise
of his