alm, and followed the
south bank towards Blasiusholm, the refuge of Georgina. At the door he
met the preacher Conradi, in whose countenance he observed with
surprise an expression of hope and serenity, mingled with some degree
of excitement. They entered the room of the young sufferer together.

'Sister is praying in her chamber,' whispered the little Magdalena to
them. 'We must not disturb her.'

'May God hear the prayer of the pious maiden,' said Conradi. 'Since
yesterday a small gleam of hope has arisen.'

'Hope?' asked Arwed. 'You have seen the cold, inimical, hypocritical
face of the queen, and dream you yet of hope?'

'If Ulrika remain queen,' answered Conradi, 'then indeed is Goertz
lost; but she has received as yet but the allegiance of the senate and
army, and not that of the country. Before she obtains the latter many
things may happen. I spoke yesterday with the counsellor count Tessin,
who is most favorably disposed towards our poor friend. The queen has
committed a great political error. She has, in convoking the members of
the diet, styled herself hereditary queen. This has injured her cause.
The senate has been severely reproached on account of the readiness
with which it acknowledged her hereditary right. They have also sought
to awaken dissatisfaction among the people; and in the last sitting of
the senate, the president, count Horn, did not hesitate to desire of
the queen that she should surrender the conferring of the royal dignity
to the decision of the diet. That only would insure her the crown,
which she else may lose.'

'Elected or hereditary queen! is it not all one?' asked Arwed.

'Not for the diet,' answered Conradi; 'and as little for the queen. The
hereditary king is indebted only to God and his forefathers; the
elected king is the creature of the electors, and must be dependent
upon them.'

'And if Ulrika should now stand upon her hereditary right?' asked Arwed
further.

'Then,' answered Conradi, 'she would by this exercise of arbitrary
power, provoke the diet to inquire into the hereditary right of the
duke of Holstein, which would perhaps stand the scrutiny much better
than her's.'

'That would little help the good cause!' replied Arwed. 'What can be
expected of a prince who is capable of giving up his faithful minister
to the rage of his enemies?'

'Or the throne would be declared vacant,' proceeded Conradi, 'and a
regent of the empire seated upon it. To that end are many Swe