The chamberlains flung wide the open doors. "Remember," said Zabern, in a somewhat stern whisper, "not a word of this duel to the princess." And the perplexed Radzivil, always guided by the advice of his colleague, gave a reluctant assent. The two ministers entered the White Saloon,--a hall so called from its pure white decorations relieved with gold. At a table sat the fair princess who now bore the name of Natalie, but in earlier days that of Barbara. She looked up with a bright smile, and motioned the two councillors to a seat at her table. Zabern was her favorite minister, and he on his part was ready to sacrifice his life to advance her interests and happiness. It was this sentiment which made him look askance at her intended marriage with the duke. With doubts of its wisdom even as a political expedient, he had no doubts at all as to the private unhappiness that would result from the union of such an ill-assorted pair. Therefore, he, Zabern, would prevent it; and matters that day seemed to be favoring his design. "You come at an unusual hour, my lords, presumably, therefore, with important tidings?" "From the grand liberticide," remarked Zabern. "Our representative at St. Petersburg," remarked the premier, taking some papers from his despatch-box, "reports that at an ambassadorial ball given at the Winter Palace a few nights ago the Emperor Nicholas walked up to him, and in a severe voice, obviously intended to be heard by the whole assembly, exclaimed: 'Is it true, sir, that the Princess of Czernova has become a convert to the Catholic Faith?'" "So my secret has transpired at last!" smiled Barbara. "Well, it matters little. It would have become public knowledge soon, inasmuch as my coronation must take place in a Latin cathedral." "Of course the reply of our representative was that he could give no answer till he had received instructions from the princess." "What said the Czar to this?" "'We,'" replied Radzivil, reading from the despatch, "'we shall send an envoy to remind the princess that her coronation-oath requires assent to the Greek Faith.' Your Highness, the Czar speaks truly. Czernova must be governed according to its Charter, and as the Charter fixes the words of the coronation-oath, we cannot deviate from them without violating the conditions upon which autonomy was ceded to us. I would that we could send word to deny the truth of your conversion. Cannot," continued the premier, fixing a wistful look upon the face of the young princess, "cannot your Highness be persuaded to return to your early faith?" "My early faith," murmured Barbara to herself, "has never changed." And then aloud she added, "Why, count, would you have me change my faith as lightly as I change my mantle?" Zabern, though a Catholic himself, and that mainly because the Czar was a Greek, was nevertheless a politician before all things, and he here intervened with a characteristic suggestion.