'That means?' asked Georgina in a faint voice.

'The death of the king and fidelity to him and to the duke are the
cause of his death.'

'Alas, how true!' sighed Georgina, and, breaking out in a flood of
tears, she sunk upon Arwed's shoulder.

The door of the adjoining room now opened, and Goertz entered with a
serene countenance, followed by the weeping Conradi. 'Father!' shrieked
his daughters, throwing themselves into his arms.

'My dear children!' cried he, joyfully pressing them to his bosom, and
kissing them tenderly.

'If that adamantine heart were here,' said Arwed to Conradi, with deep
emotion, 'this scene would yet melt it.'

'I thank God that the queen is not here,' answered the latter. 'She
would remain inexorable, and thus aggravate her responsibility in the
next world.'

The outer prison door was now opened, and with a brutal air colonel
Baumgardt walked into the room. He was followed by chief judge Hylten,
who appeared yet more miserable than before, leaning upon his clerk.
The outer hall was soon filled with Swedish grenadiers.

'Goertz, your time has come!' cried Baumgardt, roughly.

'In God's name, your blessing, my father!' cried Greorgina, kneeling
and drawing Magdalena down with her to his feet.

'Continue good!' cried Goertz in a broken voice, laying his hands upon
their heads, 'so that I may give a good account of you to your mother,
and that you may say joyfully to your God, when you come after me,
Father, here am I, and here are those whom thou hast given me.'

'Amen!' said Conradi, moving towards the door.

'Thanks for your love,' said Goertz, embracing Rank and Arwed, and then
turning to follow his spiritual assistant.

'Now let us forth,' cried Georgina wildly, grasping the hands of the
youth and of the little Magdalena, 'that we may arrive before him!'

'You cannot support the scene!' said Arwed anxiously to her.

'And should I die in his last moments,' answered Georgina, 'what a
happy death!'

Goertz had overheard this conversation, and turned once more towards
his daughters. 'You will go hence directly back to your dwelling,' said
he earnestly.

'Father!' stammered Georgina, 'shall I not see you once more?'

'It is your father's last command!' cried Goertz. 'Wouldst thou bind my
soul to earth, through sorrow for thee, when its wings were already
joyfully raised to take its flight to its creator? Take my daughters
home, Gyllenstierna!'

'Forward!' growled Baumgardt