He rose. A servant entered.
"His excellency awaits the Minister of Legation."
"I come," said Keudell. He gave Beckmann his hand, and said: "Let us soon hear of your diligence. You will pass through Hanover just in time to see the general flight."
"I am sorry Hanover is against you," said Beckmann. "It is my own country, and though I left it so long ago, I have a natural and deep regard for it. However, it will be all right when the great conflict is once over; now Fate must have her way."
And he took leave of Herr von Keudell, who forthwith mounted the broad staircase which led to the minister's rooms.
CHAPTER XI.
[THE LAST DAY AT HERRENHAUSEN].
King George of Hanover sat in the forenoon of the same 15th of June in his cabinet at Herrenhausen. The fresh air blew through the open windows, the flowers in the room gave out a pleasant perfume, and the fountains splashed and sparkled before the king's windows in his own especial garden. Everything in the royal residence breathed rest and profound peace, placed as it was quite out of the noise of the town in delightful solitude.
Privy councillor Lex sat at the table near the king, occupied in reading aloud to him the events which had just taken place.
The attendant had brought the king a cigar with some long wooden tongs, and George V. leant comfortably back in his arm chair, slowly blowing a thin blue cloud from the fragrant leaf of the havannah.