The queen's carriage was still
before my door, for it had been arranged that she was to proceed
to the palace and there await tidings. My wife and I were to
accompany her; and I went to her now, where she sat alone, and
asked if it were her pleasure to start at once. I found her
thoughtful but calm. She listened to me; then, rising, she said,
"Yes, I will go." But then she asked suddenly, "Where is the
Count of Luzau-Rischenheim?"
I told her how Bernenstein kept guard over the count in the room
at the back of the house. She seemed to consider for a moment,
then she said:
"I will see him. Go and bring him to me. You must be here while I
talk to him, but nobody else."
I did not know what she intended, but I saw no reason to oppose
her wishes, and I was glad to find for her any means of employing
this time of suspense. I obeyed her commands and brought
Rischenheim to her. He followed me slowly and reluctantly; his
unstable mind had again jumped from rashness to despondency: he
was pale and uneasy, and, when he found himself in her presence,
the bravado of his bearing, maintained before Bernenstein, gave
place to a shamefaced sullenness. He could not meet the grave
eyes that she fixed on him.
Pages:
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283