himself.'

'That would have happened long ago,' whispered Taube to her, 'did not
baron Goertz, through his _fata morgana_, know how to keep up his
sinking hopes.'

'Very true!' said Gyllenstierna. 'And had it not been for his
experiment of debasing the coin, this campaign would have been
impossible.'

'Indeed,' added Taube: 'were the old heathen gods, whom he has conjured
up from the vasty deep, to bring national bankruptcy upon Sweden, what
would the foreigner care?'

'I know not among men one whom I so cordially hate as this Goertz,'
said Ulrica in an under tone, and her eyes gleamed so fiercely that
Georgina, who from her concealment saw the look, shrunk with fear,
although she did not hear the words that accompanied it.

A chamberlain in service now announced to Ulrika that baron Goertz, who
had just arrived from Aland, and was passing through Stockholm on his
way to Frederickshall, begged permission to wait upon her royal
highness.

'It is not granted!' said Ulrika with cold disdain.

'I know not,' whispered Taube to her, 'if your highness would do well
to render your displeasure palpable to this cunning man. The mortified
ambition of a parvenu is revengeful, and Goertz proceeds hence directly
to his majesty.'

'Am I not mistress even in my own apartment!' cried Ulrika with
vehemence. 'It has come to a fine pass!' She arose from the table and
laid down her cards. 'I am indisposed,' said she to the chamberlain:
'am about to withdraw to my chamber, and can see no one.'

The servant bowed and retired to deliver the ungracious message. The
princess called her ladies and hurried from the saloon, which was soon
filled with the timid murmurs of the courtiers. Taube took the arm of
Gyllenstierna, and walked up and down the room in a low and anxious
conversation with him.

'My poor father! how hast thou with thy warm, and generous heart,
strayed to this cold and hostile kind!' cried Georgina, who had closely
observed the last scene;--and, careless of the remarks which her
disregard of etiquette might elicit, she hastened from the assembly to
greet her beloved father.

CHAPTER VI.

The fieldmarshal Rhenskioeld sat waiting, upon the sofa in the cabinet
of baron von Goertz. The latter returned from the palace, and his
indignation at the offensive answer he had received, gave way to the
joy of again meeting his friend.

'I thank you, my worthy friend,' said he, embracing