"Heavens! how you warm with this subject! But let us drop the discussion; neither of us will convince the other." "Pardon me, madam! I have just learned the story of this divorce. Astonished, furious at the infamy of the proceeding, I came here to express my views frankly to the Emperor; but, as His Majesty unfortunately is absent, I have ventured to express my sentiments to you. May I hope that you will sympathize with me, and use your influence in the defence of this ill-used woman?" "Enough," said she. "Your conversation has been very instructive, for, until to-day, I was not aware that she who took the place of a divorced wife was no better than a courtesan. You may rest assured, my lord, that the Emperor, as well as myself, will appreciate the lesson as it deserves." The Duke felt that he had made himself a mortal enemy, but it gave him no uneasiness whatever. Duke Jacomgirott was no courtier, and his energetic character never concealed, even for an instant, his true sentiments. Beatrice left him in anger, but what she witnessed on the other side was not calculated to calm her emotions; her glance was fixed for one moment on the fair Hermengarde, who was conversing joyously with the Count. "Your attentions are not at all displeasing to me," she said; "but we have determined that you shall not entirely monopolize our amiable guest. She will accompany us to our private apartments." The Empress rose, and bowing coldly to the Duke, swept out of the hall, accompanied by the lady of Castellamare, and followed by her retinue. "I have made her my enemy for life," said the Austrian to himself. "She cannot, it is true, sympathize with my poor Clemence without thinking of the Empress Adelaide, whose place she has usurped. Ah! what is it, my little man?" as Lanzo advanced, with a grave and important air. "If my eyes do not deceive me," said the jester, "you are the Duke of Austria?" "Yes; what then?" "Then, you must know, that you see before you the ambassador of the Duchess of Saxony and Bavaria." "You the envoy of a duchess! Upon my word, I am surprised." "You should not be, my lord; Clemence wanted to find some one to carry her message, but as there are but three men in the four camps, her choice was necessarily limited." "Three men only, among so many thousands of gallant soldiers! What a piece of impertinence. You deserve a flogging; but come, let us see who these three men are!" "The first one, naturally, is myself; the second, is my cousin Barbarossa; and the third shall be you, if you choose," said the jester. "How is that!" interrupted Erwin. "Am not I a man too?" "No," replied Lanzo. "To be a man, you must be free; and your heart is in bondage!" "A sorry joke!" said the Duke, with a laugh.