ion in twenty minutes.
This was not too long a time to give up to proving the old man wrong;
for to do this, not to find Helen Mowbray, was Leopold's motive in
consenting. She would not be there, and the Emperor was going because
she would not. He wanted to witness von Breitstein's confusion, for
humiliation was the bitterest punishment which could possibly be
inflicted on the proud and opinionated old man.

CHAPTER XVI

TRUTH ACCORDING TO THE CHANCELLOR

"Tell the truth--when desirable; spice with prevarication--when
necessary; and never part with the whole truth at one time, since
waste is sinful," was one of the maxims by which the Chancellor guided
his own actions, though he did not give it away for the benefit of
others; and he had made the most of that prudent policy to-day.

He had told his Emperor no lies, even through the telephone, where
forgetfulness may be pardonable; but he had arranged his truths as
skilfully as he arranged his pawns on a chess-board.

It was said by some who pretended to know, that Count von Breitstein
had had a Jesuit for a tutor; but be this as it might, it was certain
that, when he had a goal to reach, he did not pick his footsteps by
the way. A flower here or there was apt to be trodden down, a small
life broken, a reputation stained; but what of that when Rhaetia's
standard was to be planted upon the mountain top?

Supposing he had said to the Emperor, after his promise of plain
speaking: "Your Majesty's journey to-day is a wild goose chase. I
happen to know that those you seek are still at their hotel in
Kronburg. When I heard from my brother Egon that they were leaving
Schloss Lyndalberg suddenly and secretly, I went immediately to
Kronburg, and called upon the ladies. My intention was to frighten
them away, by telling them that the fraud was found out, and they had
better disappear decently of their own accord, unless they wished to
be assisted over the frontier. They actually dared refuse to see me,
alleging as an excuse the sudden illness of their companion, which had
prevented their leaving Kronburg as they intended. While I was
awaiting this answer, I learned that some person was telegraphing from
the railway station to the hotel manager, inquiring if the Mowbrays
had gone. I guessed this person to be your Majesty, and ventured to
use my influence strongly with the manager, so successfully that I was
permitted to dictate the reply, and obtain his promise that th