Herbeck sometimes irritated him, for he was never in the wrong, he was never impatient, he was never hasty, he never had to go over a thing twice.

This supernal insight, which overlooked all things but results, set the duke wondering if Herbeck was truly all human.

If only he could catch him at fault once in a while! Count von Herbeck remained at his desk, his face as inscrutable as ever, his eyes without expression, and his lips expressing nothing.

He smoothed out a sheet of paper, affixed the state seal, and in a flowing hand wrote a diplomatic note, considering the proposal of his royal highness, the prince regent of Jugendheit, on behalf of his nephew, the king.

This he placed in the diplomatic pouch, called for a courier, and despatched him at once for the frontier.
The duke sought his daughter.