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Herbeck was an excellent foil He was as silent and secretive as sand He erous corners He was tall, angular, with a thin, iht lips He was a born financier, with alh only he hiht prosperity to Ehrenstein, but he had fortified and bastioned it against extravagance, and this was probably the larger feat of the two He loved his country, and brooded over it as a mother broods over her child Twice had he saved Ehrenstein fro-net of war, and with honor So he was admired by fathers and revered by mothers

The secretary came in and laid a thin packet of papers on the chancellor's desk "It was the packet A, your Highness?"--his hand still resting upon the docuo"

The secretary bowed and withdrew

The duke stirred the papers angrily, took one of them and spread it out with a rasp

"Look at that Whose writing, I ask?"

Herbeck adjusted his glasses and scrutinized the slanting hieroglyphics He ran over it several tith he opened a drawer in his desk, sorted soht out a yellow letter This he laid down beside the other

"Yes, they are alike This will be Arnsberg But"--ery?"

"Forgery!" roared the duke "Read this one fro, then, if you still doubt"

Herbeck read slowly and carefully

Then he rose and walked to the nearest , studying the letter again in the sharper light Presently his hands fell behind his back and met about the paper, while he hiardens He remained in this attitude for some time

"Well?" said the duke impatiently

Herbeck returned to his chair "I wish that you had shown ?"

"Certainly, but he denied it"

"In a letter?"

"Yes Here, read it"

Herbeck co's desk," returned the duke, the anger in his eyes giving place to gloo, my boyhood playhest office in my power Is that not the way? Do we ever trust any one fully without being in the end deceived? Well, dead or alive," the duke continued, his throat swelling, "ten thousand crowns to hi to me, dead or alive"