"The king and queen were to have come next week, but they have now postponed their visit," said the empress.
"Because of the inundations," added Thera. "They are going to Constantinople first. I only wish they would remain with the sultan...."
"This visit seems to me at least to be something of an infliction," said Herman, laughing. "And how long do they stay, aunt?"
The empress raised her shoulders to say that she did not know: the approaching visit of the King and Queen of Syria pleased neither her nor the emperor, but it was not to be avoided.... However, not wishing to say much on this subject before Hélène, she replied:
"All the court festivities are now postponed, as you know, Herman, because of these terrible disasters. You will have a quiet time, my boy. You had better go with Othomar to Count Myxila's this evening...."
Count Myxila, the imperial chancellor, was that day keeping his sixtieth birthday. He was the emperor's principal favourite. That morning he had been to the empress to receive her congratulations. The crown-prince was, by the emperor's desire, to appear for a moment at the reception in the chancellor's palace.
Prince Herman glanced at Othomar enquiringly, as though expecting a word from him too.
"Of course," the Duke of Zara hastened to say. "Myxila will reckon on seeing Herman...."
3
When, at half-past ten in the evening, Othomar and Herman returned from the chancellor's palace in a downpour of rain, it was known among the empress' entourage also that the government had resigned; the princes had met the ministers at Count Myxila's; the crisis had thrilled through the outward ceremonial of the reception like a threatening shudder of fever. Also there was a telegram from the emperor for the Duke of Xara: