These two men were
Colonel Mollendorf and Lord Fitzgerald. The same thought
occupied each mind; the scene in the throne room.
Presently an orderly announced: "Monseigneur the archbishop."
Madame arose, and all looked expectantly, toward the door.
The old prelate entered, his head high and his step firm. He
appeared to see no one but Madame. But this time she met his
glance without a tremor.
"Monseigneur," she began, "I have come into my own at last. But
for you and your ambitious schemes, all this would not have come
to pass. You robbed my father of his throne and set your puppet
there instead. By trickery my father was robbed of his lawful
inheritance. By trickery I was compelled to regain it. However,
I do not wish to make an enemy of you, Monseigneur. I have here
two letters. They come from Rome. In one is your recall, in the
other a cardinal's hat. Which do you prefer?"
"Surely not the cardinal's hat," said the prelate. "Listen to me,
Madame, for I have something to say to you which will cause you
some reflection. If I had any ambitions, they are gone; if I had
any dreams, they have vanished.
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