or forgetting it,"
replied the lackey humbly.

"Mark it for all time to come," commanded the count. "Go now and tell my
son, Count John Adolphus, that I wish to speak with him, and request him
to come to me."

The lackey bowed obsequiously and left the apartment. He paused behind the
closed door, and with defiant, angry countenance, shook his clinched fist.

"You will no longer call us by a whistle," he muttered wrathfully, "and
yet you whistle for your parrot and your dogs. But that is quite too good
for your servants and lackeys, and they must now listen for that sheep
bell. Tinkle and ring for us, will you, as if you were the beadle and we
good-for-nothing folks to be put in the pillory? Ah me! every day the rich
and high become more haughty, and the poor and lowly must every day put up
with more! We had hoped, indeed, that other times would come, and that the
young Elector would shove that old tyrant of a Stadtholder aside, and oust
him from his dignities and offices. But Count Adam von Schwarzenberg
retains his place, and the only change for us is that he rings for us
instead of whistling as of old. We must just submit, and when he rings
obey his orders as if he whistled."

With a deep sigh and melancholy air the lackey now walked off to execute
his lord's commands, and summon Count John Adolphus to his father. This
young gentleman made haste to obey the call.

"My son," cried the Stadtholder, himself opening his cabinet door, "I
recognized your step and came to meet you."

"You have something very urgent to say to me then, since you have so
anxiously expected me?" asked John Adolphus, pressing his father's hand to
his lips.

"Yes, much that is urgent," replied the Stadtholder. "The young Elector's
envoy has arrived, and brought me a first missive from him."

"Good news?" asked his son hurriedly.

"Yes, good news. The Elector confirms me in all my offices and dignities.
I remain Stadtholder in the Mark, Director of the War Department--in
short, what I am, whence follows as a matter of course that the Elector
Frederick remains what his father was--my obedient servant. My son, the
power has not fallen from my hand, and your heritage remains."

"I assure you, my gracious father, I have but little desire to enter upon
this heritage of mine," cried young Count Adolphus, shrugging his
shoulders. "May I long remain what I am now, the son of the Stadtholder in
the Mark, the coadjutor of the Grand Master of the O