‘Ah, whatever concerns Mistress Mercia interests me; for she holds my good opinion,’ observed the minister smiling, and giving Geometrus a nod of encouragement to proceed. ‘I am heartily glad to learn that,’ rejoined Geometrus, recovering himself, ‘for she stands in need of good assistance at this moment.’ ‘What is the matter—has she met with any serious accident?’ inquired the minister in alarm. ‘She has met with that which is infinitely harder to bear to one of her pure mind, than any physical injury.’ ‘Thou speakest in riddles—pray explain thyself?’ returned his lordship a little sharply, for he was getting impatient. ‘My mistress has been grossly insulted by one who has taken advantage of his high position,’ Geometrus proceeded to say, but evidently with much reluctance. ‘By whom—Prince Osbert?’ queried his lordship hastily. ‘No, my lord, the Emperor himself,’ answered Geometrus in a low voice, but firm; the tones of which betrayed also the pain it cost him to make the disclosure. ‘The Emperor!’ repeated Lord Divesdale in profound amazement. ‘The same,’ Geometrus replied laconically. ‘How—in what manner? Pray tell me in a reasonable way what thou knowest of it?’ exclaimed Divesdale impatiently. ‘The Emperor has been coming much of late to the Observatory. Last week he made a journey thither ostensibly to talk astronomy with Mistress Mercia. Yet I saw he looked annoyed at my entrance, and as if I had been an interruption to him. However, this day he came again, and as I was in the city at the time, he obtained good opportunity to say all he desired, presumably, for it finished with Mercia tearing herself out of his grasp and threatening to take his life if he detained her further. ‘Prince Osbert, who had followed the Emperor to the Observatory for some purpose, entered the building at the same moment as myself, and we two suddenly came upon the scene just as Mercia had opened the door of the apartment to leave him. I looked into her face and saw it expressed the utmost scorn and indignation. “What is the meaning of this?” I asked, turning to the Emperor. “Oh, nothing,” he replied; “she has forgotten a duty, and I am upbraiding her.” “Liar!” exclaimed Mercia, “ask thine Empress to come hither, I have somewhat to tell her, and as for thee—find some other to fill my post, for I am thine astronomer no longer.” ‘Notwithstanding Mercia’s indignant refutation the Emperor persisted with his charge against her of idleness, and disobedience to his command; when I told him plainly that the matter should be made subject of a public inquiry; for Mercia was too honourable and pure-minded to invent a foul charge against anyone, least of all her royal master.