'Quick, Maria,' she called, as with trembling hands she began her toilet; 'quick! His Highness comes!' She seemed young again, with flushed cheeks and shining eyes. Then her sister Sittmann burst into the room. 'Wilhelmine, I hardly know how to tell you--it is----' she said, but the Graevenitz interrupted her. 'You need not--for I know--I always knew.' She stood before the mirror fastening a diamond ornament into her hair, and her glowing eyes met her sister's reflected in the glass. 'Good lack, sister! what ails you?' she cried, for the Sittmann's face was ashen, and she gazed at the Graevenitz in terrified bewilderment. 'Who do you think has come, then? Wilhelmine, you are mad! It is a troop of horse, headed by Roeder, with a warrant for your arrest.' The diamonds slipped from the Graevenitz's fingers, and fell unheeded on the floor, while all the glow and youth faded from her face. 'What are you saying? It is you who are mad--I know--it is his Highness,' she stammered hoarsely, seemingly incapable of comprehending the meaning of her sister's words. Suddenly her vigour returned, her courage, and that perfect grip of startling events which had stood her in good stead for many years. 'Where are they? Maria, bolt all the doors--quick, girl! In the court, you say? Tell them I am in the garden, send them round, then shut and bar each window.' She gave her orders clearly and calmly, like some general, the practised commander in a hundred sieges. By this time all the inmates of Freudenthal had gathered at the door of her apartment: Baron Sittmann and his sons, the brothers Pfau, a horde of serving men and women. Once more the Graevenitz seemed to be the great Landhofmeisterin whose lightest word was law, and they did her bidding without question or comment. 'Back, all of you, I will speak with Baron Roeder.' She moved to her bedchamber window which looked upon the garden. Below, on the terrace, stood Roeder and another officer consulting together in low tones, while through the garden tramped the soldiers, seeking her whom they had treated with royal honours for twenty years. She flung open the window and stood before the two officers. 'Monsieur le Baron Roeder,' she said slowly, 'to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? I am rejoiced to see you; but kindly desire your men to spare my garden--they are ruining my flowers.' Roeder looked dumbfounded. 'Certainly, your Excellency,' he stammered, 'but I must crave a word with you immediately.' 'I regret, Monsieur, that illness confines me to my room. I cannot receive you. Tell me your business from where you are.' She spoke mockingly, looking down at the man below. 'Impossible! Madame, I must speak with you face to face,' he said angrily; and indeed it was an absurd situation. 'We are face to face, Monsieur de Roeder, and I pray you tell me your mission without delay. I am fatigued with standing so long. Come, I am not in the habit of waiting, Monsieur.'