"Gone away with the doctor, to return later. And now of yourself, Christabel?"
"In the presence of this I feel I do not care. I gathered the gist of all from what Count Gustav said. What was decided? Did the Duke know that Count Stephen was living?"
"No. The thing was planned by his supporters, as he told you last night, to make sure of his leadership being secure at a time when, owing to the Emperor's illness, it seemed that the hour was at hand for the Patriots' cause to be proclaimed. They meant to kill the Count, but some one saved him, and then Katona was persuaded to undertake his guardianship."
"The Duke is a broken man. The knowledge of his favourite son's guilt; the break-up of his plans; the bitterness of the loss of virtually everything he cared for in life has completely unstrung him. He has sent Katona to take Count Stephen to him; he has given Gustav the option of voluntary exile or public exposure; and he has reinstated Karl in his position as elder son and his heir."
"Glad?" he echoed, with a meaning glance.
"Your tone is very confident. You know what it carries with it--for you, I mean?"
"I do not care what it means to me. It is right."
"The Duke is very bitter against you, Christabel."
"He would scarcely be human if he were not. In a sense this is all my doing. I have brought it about, that is. But he cannot harm me, nor prevent my dear father's memory from being cleared. True, it seems he can influence Count Karl."
His Excellency smiled with deliberate provocation. "Possibly; yet Karl, although not a Patriot, is still a rebel."
"He has gone with his father," I answered, with a shrug.
"That is not fair. The Duke was too ill to go alone."
He shook his head. "Christabel! If matters were not so sad here, I might almost be tempted to put that forbidden question."
"If you were so minded, I might not now forbid it, perhaps."
"I think I am glad to hear you say that. The girl in you can perhaps scarcely help resenting Karl's going away just now; but then any girl can be unjust at such a moment."
"Oh, no; there is no need. You will do that very well yourself when you are alone."
"All I mean is that"--he paused and smiled again--"Karl is and will remain a rebel."
I gave him my hand and he held it. "I am going with the news of her to the Duke; and when there I shall see--the rebel. Shall I give him any message?"