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"I have an idea," said the chancellor "A great many letters reach me from day to day I have an excellent ht find the true conspirator, the archplotter? Leave thehness"

"I shall not ask you to be careful with them, Herbeck"

"I shall treasure them as my life"

The duke departed, stirred as he had not been since the restoration of the princess Herbeck so, he was never i twice This supernal insight, which overlooked all things but results, set the duke wondering if Herbeck was truly all human If only he could catch him at fault once in a while!

Count von Herbeck remained at his desk, his face as inscrutable as ever, his eyes without expression, and his lips expressing nothing He smoothed out a sheet of paper, affixed the state seal, and in a flowing hand wrote a diplohness, the prince regent of Jugendheit, on behalf of his nephew, the king This he placed in the diplomatic pouch, called for a courier, and despatched hihter She was in thewo so The duke paused, shutting his eyes and striving to recall the voice of thewomen leaned back in their chairs to rest, the duke approached Upon seeing him all rose With a sarde's hand and drawing her toward a -seat, "the king of Jugendheit asks for your hand"

"Mine, father?"

"Even so"

"Then I aendheit?" There was little joy in her voice

"Ah, we have not gone so far as that The king, through his uncle, has si what you do of the past, the years that you lived in comparative penury, amid hardships, unknown, and almost without name?"

"It is for you to decide, father Whatever your decision is, I shall abide by it"

"It is a hard lesson we have to learn, my child We can not always marry where we love; diplomacy and politics make other plans But fortunately for you you love no one yet" He put his hand under her chin and searched the deeps of her gray eyes These eyes wereis young, handsoreat match"