"If Stephanie chose, she could bewitch him that he could not but choose to adhere to our side. But it has seemed to me that she was indifferent to his suit."
"Princesses can have no choice of their spouses!" said Father Lamormain. "Your Majesty must be round with her, leave her no room for wavering, bid her to her duty."
"You have as much influence with her as I, Father. If I do my part, so must you."
"Your Majesty may count on my endeavour! It is a happy moment when the need of Austria must outbalance all personal whims."
"The roads are open? You can arrange for a sufficient and well-equipped retinue, for a small company of our goodliest dames and demoiselles?"
"We are still Austria, your Majesty!"
"The project is good, Father! Put it in hand at once. The more haste the better."
Ferdinand's face cleared perceptibly.
On further reflection Father Lamormain judged it the wiser plan to prepare the mind of the Archduchess for the order of the Emperor. He knew perhaps better than any one, except Stephanie, how rebellious a Habsburger there was in her. It is even possible that the Archduchess considered her own doings as fulfilling all the reasonable demand of the parental laws. She would, however, have placed her own interpretation on the meaning of "reasonable."
He lost no time in seeking her out in her own apartments, and entreating a few moments' conversation.