CHAPTER XI.
THE DECISION.
Gabriel Zimandy came to the princess one day with a very downcast mien.
"Our case makes no headway," he lamented, "and the reason is that your advocate is a Protestant.

Now there are two ways to remedy this: either you must dismiss me and engage a Roman Catholic lawyer, or I must turn Roman Catholic myself.

The latter is the shorter and simpler expedient." Blanka thought him in fun, and began to laugh.

But Zimandy maintained his solemnity of manner.
"You see, Princess," he went on, "I am ready to renounce the faith of my fathers and incur the world's ridicule, all to serve you.

I am going this morning to the cardinal on whom the whole issue depends, to ask him to be my sponsor at the baptism." The princess pressed his hand warmly in sign of her appreciation of his devotion.
In a few days the lawyer carried out his purpose and was received into the Church of Rome.