[Footnote 88: An allusion to what is called the "Grafenfehde" of 1533-36.] [Footnote 89: As regards this argument, Falckenskjold remarks very sensibly: "Even supposing, which I am far from admitting, that there was an illicit _liaison_ between the queen and Struensee, the supposition that he was the seducer is absurd. Any princess who would deign thus to degrade herself with one of her subjects, is under the necessity of taking the first steps: this is one of the inconveniences of superior rank."] [Footnote 90: The falsehood of this charge is best proved by Falckenskjold's own examination: "I certainly made no profit out of the 3,000 crowns given me for my journeys, made by order of the king." When he was summoned from the Turkish frontier to enter the Danish service he received 1,000 dollars, and when he was sent to Petersburg on diplomatic business he was paid 2,000 crowns for his travelling and other expenses. Little enough, when we remember that on two occasions he was obliged to stay six weeks in Petersburg.] CHAPTER XII. A LUKEWARM DEFENCE. ULDALL'S SPEEDY REPLY--BREACH OF THE LAW--WEAK ARGUMENTS--PERSONALITIES APPEALED AGAINST--EXPLANATIONS--AN APPEAL TO MERCY--FALCKENSKJOLD'S OPINION OF THE AFFAIR--REVERDIL SPEAKS HIS MIND--CONDUCT OF THE FAVOURITES--THE BRIBE TO HOLCK--COUNT BERNSTORFF--THE FISCAL GENERAL'S REPLY--A SAVAGE OPPONENT. On the very next day after Wiwet's indictment was handed in to the commission, the following written defence was delivered to the judges. It is clear that Advocate Uldall could not have produced a reply to the indictment so quickly unless the accusation had been delivered to him beforehand, which was not only a breach of the law, and proves the haste with which condemnation and execution were desired, but also supplies a further and striking proof of the plans of the conspirators. After they had thrown their victims into chains, they hurried to play out the judicial farce, and shed the blood for which they thirsted. ULDALL'S DEFENCE OF COUNT STRUENSEE. The command which his Majesty the King most graciously sent to me on March 23, orders me to conduct this cause in a responsible manner, and according to the law, on behalf of Count Struensee. It is this duty which I shall now strive to fulfil with all the moderation which the count owes to his judges in his defence. Among the unfortunate circumstances which beset him at the present moment, there is one which is the more painful to him, because it was unexpected. This circumstance is, that the Fiscal General tries to render all the count's actions contemptible and ridiculous.