the rights of society, in the name of that Christian faith that you profess, I ask the restoration to me for respectful burial of the—body—of—my—husband,” the last words almost inaudible with sobs. At this point the other ladies, without any invitation, aided the distressed suppliant to a seat.
Albert bit his lip to blood with vexation. Bruno and Primus looked angrily at the floor. Rudolph moved uneasily, blanched, colored, but laying his clenched fist on the table, he said, with extraordinary recovery of calmness: “Your words, madam, imply a reproach to me, that all this ceremony of burial has not taken place. I appeal to all present whether the occasion did not require and justify the delay. On the paramount necessities of state must the reasons rest. Whenever a great prince has fallen, a legion of personators has sprung up. After the death of our predecessor Frederick II., more than twenty or thirty false Fredericks advanced pretensions and caused infinite commotion. Frederick Barbarossa is even yet expected by the peasantry, and notwithstanding all precaution multitudes of Bohemians will believe their late king is only hidden. But I must thank you for contributing greatly to the removal of my apprehension on that point. The testimony of yourself, madam, and of the distinguished persons present, one of whom can certainly certify whether a man is dead, and who first touched for embalming the still uninjured remains of the distinguished and gallant king, I deem amply sufficient testimony to satisty the requirements of state. Sir Esculapius,”
