ere the young lady had waited, evidently informed of his
coming. She invited him to pay her a visit at her hotel; he accepted,
and returned the invitation, which she accepted."

"You are misinformed. The lady was never an opera singer. And I'm
certain she would neither receive the person you mention, nor go to
visit him."

"Will you drive out to the lodge to-night, when you reach Kronburg,
and honor the gentleman with an unexpected call?"

"I will, d--n you, but not for the reason you think," cried the
Emperor. It was the first time in his life that he had ever used
strong language to the Chancellor.

He dropped the receiver, flung down a gold coin with his own head upon
it (at the moment he could have wished that he had no other) and
waving away an offer of change, rushed out of the office.

Under his breath he swore again, the strongest oaths which the rich
language of his fatherland provided, anathematizing not the beloved
woman, maligned, but the man who maligned her.

There would be death in the thought that she could be false to
herself, and her confession of love for him; but then, it was
unthinkable. Let the whole world reek with foulness; his love must
still shine above it, white and remote as the young moon.

This old man--whose life would scarce have been safe if, in his
Emperor's present mood, the two had been together--this old man had a
grudge against the one perfect girl on earth. There was no black rag
of scandal he would not stoop to pick out of the mud and fly as a
flag of battle, soothing his conscience--if he had one--by saying it
was for "Rhaetia's good."

Telling himself that these things were truths, Leopold hurried away to
inquire for the next train back to Kronburg. There would not be
another for three hours, he found, and as nothing could have induced
him to wait three hours, or even two, he ordered a special. There was
a raging tiger in his breast, which would not cease to tear him until
he had seen Helen Mowbray, laid his Empire at her feet, received her
answer, and through it, punished the Chancellor.

The special, he was told, could be ready in less than an hour. The
journey to Kronburg would occupy nearly three more, and it would be
close upon nine before he could start with Count von Breitstein, for
the hunting lodge which he had promised to visit. But the Chancellor
would doubtless have his electric carriage ready for the desired
expedition, and they could reach their destinat