For a few moments they talked lightly of the weather, of her crossing, of mutual friends in Berlin and Vienna.

Then Anna, as soon as they were alone, leaned a little forward in her chair.
"You know that I have a sort of mission to you," she said.

"I should not call it that, perhaps, but it comes to very nearly the same thing.

The Emperor has charged me to express to you and to Count Lanyoki his most earnest desire that if the things should come which we know of, you both maintain your position here at any cost.

The Emperor's last words to me were: 'If war is to come, it may be the will of God.