"Tell me frankly," I said, "is his condition quite hopeless?"
"Quite," he replied. "It is marvellous that he has lingered for so long."
"You are quite sure that nothing can be done for him? Remember that he is the King!"
"I regret having to say that nothing more can be done," said the doctor, visibly moved at my distress.
I turned to Groplau, who was standing at the foot of the bed.
"General," I said, "unknown to you, it was your King who won for you the city."
The general came forward and dropped upon his knee.
"Oh, if your Majesty had only told me!" he said; "if only I had not been so blind!"
"So blind?" asked Max, as if he did not quite understand what the other implied.
"Yes, so blind," the general continued. "Ever since that day on which I offered you the commission, your face has haunted me. I felt sure I had seen it before, but I could not tell where. I did not think of the days when you were a little boy, and played with my sword. If only I had known, how different things would have been!"