"And you say that the king will die?"
"God alone presides over human destinies, and the greatest among mortals is still but a mortal."
At that moment someone opened the door, and Lady Marta entered more solemnly than usual, and also somewhat paler. She now wore, instead of her bright striped woollen jacket, a deep mourning attire, and her whole appearance indicated something unusual. Regina and Meri both started at the sight.
Meri became pale as death, went straight to Lady Marta, looked her fixedly in the face, and said mechanically with a great effort,
"The king is dead."
"Do you know it already?" answered Lady Marta, surprised. "God preserve us, the bad news came an hour ago, with a courier from Tornea."
Lady Regina sank down in a swoon.
Meri, with a broken heart, retained her self-possession, and tried to recall Regina to life.
"The king has then fallen on the battlefield in the midst of victory?" she asked.
"On the battlefield of Lützen, the 6th of November, and in the midst of a glorious victory," replied Lady Marta, more and more surprised at Meri's knowledge.