"No appointment could give the cabinet and the Diet greater pleasure," he replied, knowing that he was committing himself to a doubtful statement.
"It is a matter in which the cabinet and the Diet have no concern," replied Barbara with a touch of hauteur in her voice.
"Your Highness, Miroslav is without, charged with a question from the Duke of Bora."
"What says that law-breaker?"
"His grace is desirous of learning from the princess how long his detention is to last."
"Till the mark on my secretary's cheek shall have disappeared. If his grace be dissatisfied with our justice, it is open to him to appeal to the law-courts of Czernova, whose sentence he will find considerably less lenient than our own."
"Your Highness, I shall have extreme pleasure in conveying that message to the duke."
CHAPTER IX
A DISPLAY OF SWORDSMANSHIP
On quitting the presence of the princess, Paul and Zabern took their way through the palace gardens, where they were met by two individuals in uniform, whom the marshal introduced to Paul. The more youthful of the two, who had fair hair, blue eyes, and a comely face that seemed to indicate habitual good humor, was Dorislas, and he held the office of Minister of Finance. The other, a somewhat sullen-looking personage, was Miroslav, the governor of the Citadel, "and," added Zabern, "the present guardian of your friend the duke."