th, which had taken them by
surprise. Life was not secure: who could tell that he would be alive
to-morrow! Vain were the plans of men: who could tell what the hour
would bring forth! And he lay thinking of this calmly, in the singular
peacefulness of his soul, in which he saw the futility of struggling
against life or against death.

Not till next day did Barzia give him leave to get up, late in the
afternoon. After his shower-bath, he dressed calmly, in his lancer's
uniform, with crape round the sleeve. When he saw himself in the glass,
he was surprised at his resemblance to his mother, at seeing how he now
walked with the same mechanical step. Barzia allowed him to go to the
empress' sitting-room. He there found her, the emperor, Thera and the
Archduke and Archduchess of Carinthia, who had arrived at Lipara the
evening before. They sat close together, now and then softly exchanging
a word.

Othomar went up to the emperor and would have embraced him; Oscar,
however, only pressed his hand. After that Othomar embraced his sisters
and his brother-in-law. Then he sank down by the empress, took her hand
in his and sat still. She looked attenuated and white as chalk in her
black gown. She did not weep: only the two princesses sobbed,
persistently, again and again.

The family dined alone in the small dining-room, unattended by any of
the suite. A depression had descended upon the palace, which seemed
wholly silent at this hour, with but now and then the soft footsteps
through the galleries of an aide-de-camp carrying a funeral-wreath, or a
flunkey bringing a tray full of telegrams. After the short dinner, the
family retired once more to the empress' drawing-room. The hours dragged
on. Night had fallen. Then the Archbishop of Lipara was announced.

The imperial family rose; they went through the galleries, unattended,
to the great knights' hall. Halberdiers stood at the door, in mourning.
They entered. The emperor gave his hand to the empress and led her to
the throne, whose crown and draperies were covered with crape. On either
side were seats for Othomar, the princesses, the archduke.

In the middle of the hall, in front of the throne, rose the catafalque,
under a canopy of black and ermine. On it lay the little prince in
uniform. Over his feet hung a small blue knight's mantle with a great
white cross; a boy's sword lay on his breast; and his little hands were
folded over the jewelled hilt. By his little head, somewh