"But I am thoroughly impressed with the conviction that the criticism must be made," exclaimed the Professor.
"To the Sovereign alone, or before others?" asked the High Steward.
"If the ears and mind of the Sovereign remain closed, then before the world. I shall thus fulfil an imperative duty to all who might suffer from the dark fancies of this disordered mind; a duty from which I, as an honest man, cannot escape. If calm remonstrance will not move him, I shall publicly arraign him before the rulers and people of our nation. For it is not to be borne that the conditions of ancient Rome should again rise to life among our people."
"That is decisive," replied the High Steward.
He went to his bureau, took out a document, and presented it to the Scholar.
"Read this. Will you renounce a personal interview with the Sovereign if this paper is signed by his hand?"
The Professor read, and bowed to the High Steward.
"As soon as he ceases to be what he has been, I shall consider him merely as an afflicted man; in this case my interview with him would be useless. Meanwhile I repeat my request to procure an audience before the Sovereign's departure."
The High Steward took back the document.
"I will endeavor to act as your representative. But do not forget that the Sovereign travels to Rossau in another hour. If we ever see each other again, Mr. Werner," concluded the old lord, solemnly, "may both our hearts be free from anxiety about that which sometimes one esteems lightly, as you do at this moment, but which one does not willingly allow one's self to be robbed of by the intervention of another."