The Ambassador stopped, grew very white, and stared at the messenger for a moment in blank unbelief.
The young man now repeated, in English, in a tone that could be heard in all parts of the hushed room: "His Majesty, the Emperor Johann Wilhelm, died suddenly to-night, in Vienna," he said, and gave his arm to his chief.
It was a strange place for the delivery of such a message, and the strangeness of it was intensified to Shirley by the curious glance that passed between John Armitage and Jules Chauvenet.

Shirley remembered afterward that as the attache's words rang out in the room, Armitage started, clenched his hands, and caught his breath in a manner very uncommon in men unless they are greatly moved.

The Ambassador walked directly from the room with bowed head, and every one waited in silent sympathy until he had gone.
The word passed swiftly through the great house, and through the open windows the servants were heard crying loudly for Baron von Marhof's carriage in the court below.
"The King is dead; long live the King!" murmured Shirley.
"Long live the King!" repeated Chauvenet and Mrs.Sanderson, in unison; and then Armitage, as though mastering a phrase they were teaching him, raised his head and said, with an unction that surprised them, "Long live the Emperor and King! God save Austria!" Then he turned to Shirley with a smile.
"It is very pleasant to see you on your own ground.

I hope your family are well." "Thank you; yes.

My father and mother are here somewhere." "And Captain Claiborne ?" "He's probably sitting up all night to defend Fort Myer from the crafts and assaults of the enemy.