which had been in his mind
to say, and he was satisfied. Meekness was not his _metier_, yet he
could play the part of the faithful servant, humbly loyal through
injustice and misunderstanding; and he played it now, because he knew
it to be the one effective role. He sat beside the Emperor with bowed
head, and stooping shoulders which suggested the weakness of old age,
his hands clasped before him; and from time to time he sighed
patiently.

As they glided under the dark arch of the Buchenwald, Leopold spoke
again.

"You have led me to suppose that our call at the hunting lodge will be
a surprise visit to the Prince. That is the case, isn't it?"

Count von Breitstein would have preferred that the question had not
been asked. He had intended to convey the impression which the Emperor
had received, but he had not clothed it in actual statement. Luckily
the Prince was as clever as he was good looking, and he could be
trusted as an actor, otherwise the old man would have been still more
reluctant to commit himself.

"Were our visit expected, we should not be likely to find the lady,"
said he. "The Prince and I are on such friendly terms, your Majesty,
that he didn't mind confessing he was to have a pretty actress as his
guest. He also answered a few questions I asked concerning her, freely
and frankly, for to do so he had to tell me only what the world knows.
How could he dream that the flirtations or the visits of a Miss Jenny
Brett could be of the slightest importance to the Emperor of Rhaetia?
Had he guessed, however, that the entertainment he meant to offer her
might be interrupted, naturally he would have taken some means to
protect her from annoyance."

"This night's work will give him cause to pick a private quarrel with
me, if he likes," said the Emperor, convinced of the Chancellor's good
faith.

"I don't think he will choose, your Majesty. You are in a mood to be
glad if he did, I fear. But no; I need _not_ fear. You will always
remember Rhaetia, and put her interests before your own wishes."

"You weren't as confident of that a few hours ago."

"Even then I knew that, when the real test should be applied, your
Majesty's cool head would triumph over the hot impulse of youth. But
see, we're passing through the village of Inseleden, fast asleep
already; every window dark. In six or seven minutes at this speed, we
shall be at the lodge."

The Emperor laughed shortly. "Add another seven minutes to your fir