"Stand back!" cried the guard.
The emperor walked past. He had heard the shout. At the door he turned his stern face, while his eyes flashed for a moment searchingly over the crowd. He then slowly walked on. No accident disturbed the representation, and the daggers that had been lurking outside for the modern Cæsar had failed to strike him.
On the same evening the two conspirators met at the place agreed on. With disappointed faces they seemed to read each other's secret thoughts.
"Why did you not reply to me, brother?" asked Conrad. "Why were you silent when I gave the signal?"
"I was unable to get through the crowd," said Alfred. "The gendarmes refused to let me pass, and it appeared to me they were eying me suspiciously. It was impossible to penetrate to the spot indicated. I heard you call, but could not reply; I was too far from you."
"The work, then, must be done to-morrow," said Conrad, gravely and sadly.
"Remember, brother, that the order of the president was to strike the blow within a week. To-morrow is the last day!"
"Yes, to-morrow we must desecrate the sacred cause of the fatherland by an assassination," said Alfred, sighing. "But we have sworn not to shrink from death if the league requires it, and must obey!"
"We must obey or die," murmured Conrad. "Do you know the programme of to-morrow?"
"I do, brother. Napoleon wishes to show the battle-field of Jena to the Emperor Alexander, and to the kings and princes; and the Duke of Weimar, who participated in the battle at the head of a Prussian division, has arranged, in harmless self-irony, a hare-hunt. That will be a highly dignified celebration of the anniversary of that battle."