"Still the same, Herr Doctor," she said, in a rather rough voice.
"Your Highness has slept?" asked the great doctor, indifferently.
"That is sufficient. Did you cough on waking?"
"A degree or two yesterday evening; four or five degrees."
"Then, Your Highness, there is nothing fresh."
"Nothing fresh indeed!" she exclaimed, raising her voice, like a little cry, and coughing immediately afterwards.
Very coldly and quietly, the great phthisis doctor waited for the Grand Duchess to begin all the daily grievances, which she came every day to explain to him, at least to get consolation.
She looked at him, with her light eyes more troubled than ever: she looked at him, half consoled and uncertain.
"Do you believe that this can last, _mein Herr_?"
"I believe so," he said, still coldly but firmly.
"Shall I not die within a month or a year, _mein Herr_? Tell me."
Coldly, icily, he looked at her with his terribly penetrating eyes, which, however, were sad and even pitiful. Without hesitation he answered her.
She bowed her head and sighed deeply: and an expression of comfort spread itself on the face worn with disease, which had neither beauty nor grace, but yet inspired interest and pity.
"May I not leave for Gotha?" she murmured anxiously.
"The Grand Duke complains of my long absence."
"My children are alone; why may I not see them?"
"Your presence, Your Highness, would do them more harm than good."
"Yes, I live, it is true; but I don't care either for the country or the people," she said, with an accent of disgust.
"Because I am ill; because I can no longer do what the others do. I only like you here, Herr Doctor."
And she looked at him as at a sacred image, with reverence and almost with fear.
"But why?" he asked, without showing surprise.
"Because you, _mein Herr_, know the secret of my life and death. Won't you come to Gotha?"
"Are you so fond of this country? Why do you like it so much?" she asked weakly, still a little discouraged.
"Because it has a secret of life and not of death, Your Highness," added Doctor Karl Ehbehard mysteriously, with a slight bow.
She understood and rose. She came towards him, took his two hands in hers, and pressing them said:
"Do you really believe that I ought to remain in this country?"