To avenge himself of the wrongs so long endured of Jugendheit, to wipe out the score with blood! Did they think that he was in his dotage, to offer an insult of this magnitude?
They should see, aye, that they should! It did not matter that the news reached him through subterranean channels or by treachery; there was truth here, and that sufficed.
"Enter!" he cried, as some one knocked on the door.
Herbeck came in, as calm, as imperturbable as ever.
"Your highness sent for me ?" "I did.

Why the devil couldn't you have left well enough alone?
Read this!" flinging the note down on his desk.
Herbeck picked it up and worked out the creases.

When he had read to the final word, his hand, even as the duke's, closed spasmodically over the stiff paper.
"Well ?" The query tingled with rage.
The answer on the chancellor's lips was not uttered.

Hildegarde came in.
She blew a kiss at her father, who caught the hand and drew her toward him.

He embraced her and kissed her brow.
"What is it, father ?" Herbeck waited.
"Read," said the duke.
As the last word left Herbeck's lips, she slipped from her father's arms and looked with pity at the chancellor.
"What do you think of this, Hildegarde ?" "Why, father, I think it is the very best thing in the world," dryly.
"An insult like this ?" The duke grew rigid.