"It is natural that we should consult you when THE PRINCIPLE is involved. Moreover, we depend upon your firmness and energy. You can offer us valuable suggestions, for no one has so imposing a conception of the royal dignity." "That is because no one else has endured so much for the royal cause. I am the unhappiest woman on earth--" and her tears fell. "I wrote so upon the walls of my prison and it is still the truth." "Thérèse, what memories! What a tragedy!" "In that prison," she exclaimed, "in that horrible prison, while we underwent the Via Crucis of outrages, there arose like a beautiful star, illuminating even the prisons and scaffolds,--there arose the PRINCIPLE. Only the PRINCIPLE is of moment; individuals are as nothing. What matter our sufferings or the blood that was spilled, or all the heads that fell if the principle remain the centre of life? But one head fell which incarnated the PRINCIPLE and it has cried for vengeance to God." A fire glowed in her faded eyes, her heart beat so rapidly that the paper beneath the dress rustled. The Duke drew closer but made no effort to touch even her hands. No sweet transport had united these souls. "I rejoice to see you thus, Thérèse," he murmured. "What has made the King fear your attitude on this question?" "As the King has not suffered, he has no comprehension of the PRINCIPLE. I pray much for the King. He is a weakling." "Not so today, Thérèse," the Duke interposed. "His Majesty's tastes differ, perhaps, from yours, from ours; but when he beholds the ship of state in danger, then does he recover his spirit, rather then does he seem to, for in reality he never loses it. Because of his artistic and philosophical pre-occupations and of his adherence to certain doctrines--which, to be frank, are not to my liking,--because of these, he regards at times indifferently what he eventually realizes to be of supreme importance. There are times when his imagination dominates him, but he has too great a mind to permit such impressions to be more than transitory. Do you remember the recent episode of the visionary Martin? Well, for a while the King was greatly troubled. He believed his end to be near." "It is," she observed with no trace of emotion. "His infirmities increase rapidly." "All the more reason," he rejoined, "that we should live cautiously. His Majesty's ill health may cause complications." "And how does that fear affect your attitude with regard to--imposters?"