'But, my dear madam,' he broke out again, 'in the name of
all that is practical, what are we to do? This is exceedingly
grave; morally, madam, it is appalling. I take the liberty, your
Highness, for one moment, of addressing you as a daughter, a loved
although respected daughter; and I must say that I cannot conceal
from you that this is morally most questionable. And, O dear me, we
have a dead body!'
She had watched him closely; hope fell to contempt; she drew away
her skirts from his weakness, and, in the act, her own strength
returned to her.
'See if he be dead,' she said; not one word of explanation or
defence; she had scorned to justify herself before so poor a
creature: 'See if he be dead' was all.
With the greatest compunction, the Chancellor drew near; and as he
did so the wounded Baron rolled his eyes.
'He lives,' cried the old courtier, turning effusively to Seraphina.
'Madam, he still lives.'
'Help him, then,' returned the Princess, standing fixed. 'Bind up
his wound.'
'Madam, I have no means,' protested the Chancellor.
'Can you not take your handkerchief, your neck-cloth, anything?' she
cried; and at the same moment, from her light muslin gown she rent
off a flounce and tossed it on the floor. 'Take that,' she said,
and for the first time directly faced Greisengesang.
But the Chancellor held up his hands and turned away his head in
agony.
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