"You had peradventure an encounter with robbers?"
"If it could be called so, an encounter! Two men set upon me in the dark as I slept, and having bound and gagged me, ransacked my holsters, my saddle-bags, my clothes, and went away having taken nothing."
"And did you not see their faces, hear their voices?"
"And you accomplished your errand successfully?"
"You were either very astute or very fortunate! You will doubtless be employed again. Now let me introduce myself. I am Father Lamormain, the Emperor's confessor."
"I am much honoured by your company," said Nigel. "My name is Nigel Charteris, Captain of Musketeers."
"From Magdeburg, is it not?" The priest smiled.
The Emperor Ferdinand and Father Lamormain were together in the Emperor's private apartments.
"She was always Stephanie the intractable!" said the Emperor, with something like a smile on his grave face. After all he had many memories of her that Father Lamormain could never have of any child.
"Yes!" said Father Lamormain. "But in this case your Imperial Majesty should permit itself to use its parental authority."
"Even to harshness!" said the priest in a gentle voice. "Your Majesty knows that the Elector Maximilian still claims that the Empire owes him thirteen millions of crowns for his aid in the war against the Elector Palatine, and that he wanted the Palatinate, and would have had it but for the opposition of Brandenburg and Saxony. Now if Brandenburg and Saxony join Gustavus, as they must, what can we say to Maximilian if he prefers his claim again?"
"He must have it, I suppose!" said the Emperor in a tone that suggested that he was rather tired.
"Then he will ask for Bohemia as the price for allowing his army to support Tilly against Gustavus."
"Bohemia is another affair!" said the Emperor more briskly.
"Now if her Highness the Archduchess would only consent to marry the Elector Maximilian, we should hear nothing more of the thirteen millions, or of the Palatinate, or of Bohemia," reflected Father Lamormain aloud.
"She is very young!" objected his Majesty.
"What new freak have you discovered, Father?"
"This!" said the Father, producing the letter he had had before him on the previous day. "It is a summary of the roll of Tilly's army, and it was found upon a messenger, who was unfortunately killed on his way to the north _before he could be questioned_."