There lies the danger. The revolution hangs
imminent; we sit, at this council board, below the sword of
Damocles.'
'We must then lay our heads together,' said the Prince, 'and devise
some honourable means of safety.'
Up to this moment, since the first note of opposition fell from the
librarian, Seraphina had uttered about twenty words. With a
somewhat heightened colour, her eyes generally lowered, her foot
sometimes nervously tapping on the floor, she had kept her own
counsel and commanded her anger like a hero. But at this stage of
the engagement she lost control of her impatience.
'Means!' she cried. 'They have been found and prepared before you
knew the need for them. Sign the despatch, and let us be done with
this delay.'
'Madam, I said "honourable,"' returned Otto, bowing. 'This war is,
in my eyes, and by Herr von Gondremark's account, an inadmissible
expedient. If we have misgoverned here in Grunewald, are the people
of Gerolstein to bleed and pay for our mis-doings? Never, madam;
not while I live. But I attach so much importance to all that I
have heard to-day for the first time - and why only to-day, I do not
even stop to ask - that I am eager to find some plan that I can
follow with credit to myself.'
'And should you fail?' she asked.
'Should I fail, I will then meet the blow half-way,' replied the
Prince. 'On the first open discontent, I shall convoke the States,
and, when it pleases them to bid me, abdicate.
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