“My son!” exclaimed the count, smiling, “you are a pattern of discretion and modesty.  You amaze, you delight me.  You have not ventured, and will not venture to declare your love to the Princess?”

“No, father, at least, not so long as it is an unsanctioned love—­so long as I do not know whether it has your approval, and through you the Elector’s.”

“You would step surely, you would engage in no undertaking that does not promise good results!  Ah, I understand now—­I comprehend all now.  I have an irresistible desire to embrace you, and I know you will pardon your father for this one ebullition of tenderness.  Come to my heart, my great, my admirable son!”

He flung his arms around his son’s neck and imprinted a warm kiss upon his lips.

“Count John Adolphus Schwarzenberg,” he said then, “with this kiss I give you my consent to woo the Princess Charlotte Louise!  With this kiss I promise so to work upon and bend the Elector’s heart, that he will give you the Princess’s hand, and agree to your union.”

“My dear father, you open indeed to me the gate of paradise.  But this gate has two wings, and if I would gain admittance, both wings must open to me.”

“Oh, you mean the Electress?  She will certainly be very much opposed to such a union, for she has a proud and willful heart, over which no one has any influence except the Electoral Prince, and he, indeed, will not use his influence in our behalf.  Well, there is nothing for it but to oppose force to force, and to constrain the dear lady to give her consent.  To employ such coercive measures is your affair, my son!”

“You empower me to do so, father?  You will not refuse me your support?  You will not disavow my acts?”

“I empower you to do everything you think needful, and you will find me a faithful ally, for I recognize joyfully in you my trusty coadjutor, and see that we may count upon each other.”

“I shall ever esteem it a sacred and delightful duty to obey you, my much-loved father, and I shall joyfully hold myself ready to carry out your wishes.”

“And you will do well in this, my son,” said Count Adam Schwarzenberg, with a hearty pressure of the hand.  “All that I do for myself is also done for you, all that I obtain is for your profit and advantage.  You are my heir, to you will descend all my earthly possessions, my name, my renown, my dignities and offices, my money and estates.”

“Cher pere” cried the young man, “let us not speak of such solemn things.  I hope that it will be a long time yet ere I enter upon that great and sad inheritance.”

“I hope so, too,” said Count Adam, with animation of manner.  “I would leave you all in perfect condition, and to effect this much labor is yet required.  I have set myself a mighty task, and it is yet far from its accomplishment.”

“And yet you have already conducted and executed matters so grandly, so admirably, father!  You have no idea with what rapture they think of you and your performances at the imperial court.  Emperor Ferdinand spoke of you as his most trusted and beloved servant, and Father Silvio called you a lamp of the faith and a faithful son of the Church, through whom many will yet be saved.”