I charged him with the care of the princess, looking him full and significantly in the face as I bade him let no one from her cousin the duke approach her, unless he himself were there and a dozen of his men with him.
"You may be right, sire," said he, shaking his grey head sadly.

"I have known better men than the duke do worse things than that for love." I could quite appreciate the remark, but I said: "There's something beside love, Marshal.

Love's for the heart; is there nothing my brother might like for his head ?" "I pray that you wrong him, sire." "Marshal, I'm leaving Strelsau for a few days.

Every evening I will send a courier to you.

If for three days none comes, you will publish an order which I will give you, depriving Duke Michael of the governorship of Strelsau and appointing you in his place.