'It must be confessed,' said Cronhielm timidly, 'that he was not permitted to exercise the right of defence so fully as the law allows, and that he had not the benefit of legal counsel. Besides, he is a member of the Franconian nobility, who are very jealous of their privileges. They will maintain that the accused could not be legally judged here, and, to avoid irritating them, it appears to me that it would be well not to deal too severely with him.' 'I know nothing to induce me to suppose,' said Horn, 'that Goertz had not the privilege of defending himself.' 'If he had not,' said Tessin, 'he must be allowed a new trial.' 'I call for the votes of the special commission,' said Cronhielm. 'Stiernkrona has explicitly declared it contrary to law and equity to deprive Goertz of the means of defending himself.' 'Let the record of the commission be brought here,' said the queen angrily, to baron Banner. He hastened into the ante-chamber and sent the chief clerk to bring it, while slight hopes were once more raised in the bosom of the listening Arwed. Meanwhile there was a long pause in the council room, during which count Cronhielm was compelled to bear the inconvenient criticisms of his brother counsellors for his last speech. 'As governor of Stockholm,' said Baron Taube, interrupting the general silence, 'it is my duty to inquire how the execution shall be conducted?' 'The conclusion is,' answered the queen impatiently, 'that the governor is to deal with baron von Goertz according to the sentence of the commission, as confirmed by the diet.' 'It is quite superfluous, then,' cried Cronhielm, rising up with feelings of resentment, 'that we should further discuss an affair in relation to which her majesty has already issued her commands.' 'Certainly, wholly superfluous,' said Horn, likewise rising. The others followed his example. The council broke up its sitting without waiting for the record of the commission, and, reverentially conducted by her attendants, the queen, like a thunder cloud which had ignited and exploded with wide spread desolation, proudly moved through the ante-chamber. '_Stat pro ratione voluntas!_' cried Arwed with suppressed rage. 'Wo to the country where the holy halls of justice can be profaned by such a sentence!' CHAPTER XXIV. On the 12th March, all Stockholm was stirring with unusual commotion. The streets leading to the place of execution were thronged with people impelled by strongly excited curiosity. Cavalry and infantry were drawn up before the council house on the Suedermalm, before the principal door of which stood the carriage destined for the conveyance of the baron von Goertz. Arwed entered Goertz' prison, supporting the faltering steps of Georgina with one arm, whilst with the other hand he led the wailing Magdalena. Lieutenant general Rank was sitting alone in the room, reading a paper which he had taken from among others which lay upon the table.