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"You see

"I am indeed that, Count I received a letter to-day froent It was sent to hi in Bavaria Read it, Count, but I pray to you to do nothing hastily"

The chancellor did not open the letter, heshould be so heavy with dark portents! His accustoe

"So his majesty declines?" he said evenly

"You have already heard?" cried the a; I surmise The hour, your appearance, the letter--to what else could they point? I was afraid all along Strange instinct we have at tiranted He has been used to power one day too long Ah, if his majesty could but see her, could only kno lovely she is in heart andwould please reater pleasure and satisfaction, than to see this e consu been current"

"I believe you We two peoples should be friendly It has takenthis hness scorned the hand of Frederick One by one I had to overcome their objections--to this end The past refuses to be buried Still, if you saw all the evidence in the case you would not blame the duke for his attitude"

"But those docueries!"

"So they may be, but that has not been proved"

"Why should his late rand duke? For what benefits? To what end? Ah, Count, if soht forward, somefrom the most unheard-of places And motives in action are always based on impulses But let us waste no time on retrospection It is the present which confronts us You do not ar"

"No est?"

"I ask, nay, I plead that question of you"

"I represent the offended party" The chancellor's gaunt features lighted with a transient sest, then, that the duke reed Go on"

"You will put the hness"

"That will be difficult"

"Let her repudiate the negotiations Let her say that she has changed herthat the huenerous But suppose she has set her heart on the crown of Jugendheit? What then?"