"Your Excellency would in that case not have gone to Serenissimus," the lawyer went on; "but it was not to be avoided. His Highness, with his customary generosity, resolved at once ..." "That is," the Marshal interrupted him, "in consequence of my report and recommendation." "Of course, in consequence of His Excellency's report and recommendation, resolved at once that the bill was to be paid as if everything were in perfect order, under the condition that the Herr Baron should never show his face at Court again, and depart straightway. This latter point, the Grand Duke declared with very natural anger ..." "I really must beg ..." objected the Marshal. "Declared with considerable emphasis to be the _conditio sine quâ non_, if he were to show a merciful forbearance, in lieu of allowing the law to take its course. And now we come to the point when ..." "When," the Marshal said, turning to Otto, "I must claim your kind services. You have the ... I can only say the great misfortune to be a friend ... I mean an acquaintance of the Herr Baron, who is at present a guest in your house. My appearance there, however greatly I should esteem such an honour, would perhaps cause some sensation, the very thing His Highness wishes to avoid at any cost. Serenissimus himself suggested and our common friend here ventures to propose directly, that ..." "That you, my dear Bermer," resumed the lawyer, "might give the young gentleman the requisite strong hint, to which a letter which His Excellency has just drawn up in my office ..." "And which I beg herewith to produce," said the Marshal. "Would give additional emphasis," concluded the lawyer. "I would beg your Excellency to intrust the letter to me," said Bertram. "I chance to know where the Herr Baron, who left my friend's house last night, is to be found at this present moment. To be sure I must leave at once, lest I miss him. You are coming with me, Otto?" "Of course," cried Otto; "my carriage is at the door." "And your horses are swifter than the hired ones, which I had ordered to be here at five. It is a quarter to five now. We have not a moment to lose." "But tell him it as gently as possible, I entreat you," the Marshal called out after the two friends, who were already crossing the little courtyard. Bertram waved his hand in assent. A minute later the carriage was rattling along the narrow lane behind the lawyer's garden towards the broad street leading to the town gates. XXV. Bertram, on entering the carriage, at once told Otto of the place in the wood where, by the shore of the little lake, the meeting was to take place, and Otto replied that they could easily reach it in half an hour, going first along the high-road, then turning off to the right and driving along some country lanes, and at last, for a brief stretch, through the forest.