em, cynically, his eyes gleaming because Ducardi for once was
being put in his place. He winked at the duchess.

And only Siridsen and Thesbia took Ducardi's side, hesitating because
the general declared with such conviction that the emperor's will would
be different from his son's wish; especially Thesbia:

"I can't understand why the prince insists so," he whispered to the
duchess in alarm. "Ducardi's right: you yourself know how the emperor
loathes Zanti...."

The duchess shrugged her handsome shoulders with a smile, listening to
Othomar, whom she heard defending himself, supported by ejaculations and
nods from the others.

"Well," she heard Ducardi answer, drily, "if your highness absolutely
insists that we should go to Zanti's, we will go; I only hope that your
highness will always remember that I did not agree with you in this
matter...."

The Duke of Xara now answered laughingly, was the first to make peace
after this victory; and, as to the rest of the route to Lycilia, which
they worked out on the map, he agreed with the general in everything,
with little flattering intonations of approval and appreciation of his
penetrating and practical judgement....

"He may not have the makings of a great commander," whispered Dutri to
the duchess, "but he will turn out a first-rate little diplomatist...."

But Ducardi was inwardly very angry. For a moment he thought of
ascertaining the emperor's wishes by a secret telegram, but he rejected
this idea, as it would make a bad impression at the Imperial if the Duke
of Xara were not left free in such an apparent trifle. He therefore only
attempted, next morning, once more to dissuade Othomar from the visit,
but the prince held firm.

"You seem very much opposed to this expedition, general," said Von Fest.
"Isn't it really quite reasonable?"

"You don't know the prejudice his majesty has against that man,
colonel," replied the general. "As I have told you before, his majesty
is thinking of exiling him and is sure to do so when he hears that he
has now shut himself in his castle, doubtless with the object of
stirring up the peasantry, as he has already stirred up the workmen in
the towns. The man is a dangerous fanatic, colonel: dangerous especially
because he has money with which to put his visions into practice. He
instigates the lower orders not to fulfil their military duties because
it is written: 'Thou shalt not kill.' He looks upon marriage as a
useless sacramen