“Who put you up to this?” demanded Maurice.

“You are choking me!”

“Who, I say?”

“Beauvais.”

Scharfenstein and von Mitter looked at each other comprehensively.

“Who is this Beauvais? Speak!”

“I am dying, Herr... Your knees—”

Maurice withdrew his knees. “Beauvais; who is he?”

“Prince... Walmoden, formerly of the emperor's staff.”

Johann's eyes closed again, and his head fell to one side.