"The cabinet connive at the breaking of the law! Impossible! It is our duty to inform her Highness without delay, unless," added the premier, "unless you can give good reason for acting otherwise."
"Well, I, Zabern, forbid you," laughed the marshal good-humoredly. "Won't that reason suffice you, count?"
Ere the premier could reply, the chiming of a silver bell in the audience-chamber announced that the princess was ready to receive her visitors.
The chamberlains flung wide the open doors.
"Remember," said Zabern, in a somewhat stern whisper, "not a word of this duel to the princess."
And the perplexed Radzivil, always guided by the advice of his colleague, gave a reluctant assent.
The two ministers entered the White Saloon,—a hall so called from its pure white decorations relieved with gold.
At a table sat the fair princess who now bore the name of Natalie, but in earlier days that of Barbara.
She looked up with a bright smile, and motioned the two councillors to a seat at her table.
Zabern was her favorite minister, and he on his part was ready to sacrifice his life to advance her interests and happiness. It was this sentiment which made him look askance at her intended marriage with the duke. With doubts of its wisdom even as a political expedient, he had no doubts at all as to the private unhappiness that would result from the union of such an ill-assorted pair.