“I quite see your position. With reference to the Doctor—I suppose you will consult him before summoning the Council?”
“I must do so. It is indispensable that he should be brought to modify his views on the King’s state of health. I understand that he is still secretly in the Castle.”
“Yes. I requested him not to leave the Court for the present. Do you anticipate that it will be easy to induce him to change his opinion?”
“I do not doubt that you and I together, Madam, will be able to convince him that it is necessary for the public safety that he should.”
Hermengarde bowed silently, with a look which showed that she understood the meaning underlying the Minister’s words.
“In addition,” he pursued, “I have the written authority of the Kaiser for the step which we propose to take. I ascertained from Dr. Krauss some time ago, on the occasion when we last consulted him, in fact, that the Kaiser’s authority would have great weight with him.”
The Princess looked much relieved.
“The Doctor’s assistance will be the more necessary,” said Herr Moritz, speaking for the first time, “because we shall have to contend, of course, with the determined opposition of the King’s personal intimates.”
Hermengarde looked at him with a slight touch of contempt.
“I should not have thought that the opposition of Herr Mark would have counted for very much,” she remarked sarcastically.