Then he paused with abruptness.
"Your Majesty, I regret that your father is not alive to accept my
apologies for so baselessly misjudging him. Arnsberg, nothing that I can
do will restore these wasted years. But I offer you the portfolio."
"I am only a broken man, your Highness; too old."
"It is my will."
Arnsberg bent his head in submission.
"As for you," said the duke to the Gipsy, "go, and if you ever step this
side the frontier again you will be shot out of hand." He stopped again
in front of Grumbach. "I promised to have you shot in the morning. That
promise holds. But a train leaves for Paris a little after midnight. My
advice is for you not to miss it."
"And my father, your Highness?" said Hildegarde bravely.
"Herbeck, your estates are confiscated, your name is struck from the
civic and military lists. Have you any ready funds?"
"A little, your Highness."
"Enough to take you for ever out of this part of the world?"
"Yes, your Highness."
"You do not ask to be forgiven, and I like that. I have judges in
Dreiberg. I could have you tried and condemned for high treason, shot or
imprisoned for life. But to-night I shall not use this prerogative. You
have, perhaps, three hours to get your things in order. To-morrow you
will be judged and condemned.
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