or Ottilia; but of Fritz he was not quit so readily. That young politician, brimming with mysterious glances, offered to lend his convoy as far as to the high-road; and Otto, in fear

had already traversed more than half the proposed distance w

asked, ‘what they

‘not precisely what they

u back. And there, sir, you were right: old men are always cowards. But nowadays, you see, there are so many groups: you can never tell how far the

, ‘I never said a wo

you and me,’ lowering his voice, ‘I am myself affiliated. O yes, I am a secret society man, and here is my medal.’ And drawing out a green ribbon that he wore about his neck, he held up, for Otto’s inspection, a pewter

right in thinking that I have to do with politics, I am unfit by intellect and temper for a leading role. I was intended, I fear, for a subaltern. Yet we have all something to command, Mr. Fritz, if i

e nature of the information he had elicited; and then brightening up: ‘I

g. ‘You must not be too zealous. And in the meantime

let nothing out; for I suspected — I might say I knew it -from the first. And

contented with his bearing at the farm; men, he was able to tell himself, had behaved worse under sma

the pines stood coolly rooted — green moss prospering, springs welling forth between their knuckled spurs; and though some were broad and sta

oulder, the solitary cabin of a woodman. But the highway was an international undertaking and with its face set for distant cities, scorned the little life of Grunewald. Hence it was exceeding solitary. Near the fro

a cross-road coming steeply down hill, and a horseman cautiously descending. A human voice or presence, like a spring in the desert, was now welcome in itself, and Otto drew bridle to await the coming of this stranger. He proved to be a very red-faced, thick

rds Mittwalden?’

Tannenbrunn,’ the man repli

ven waited for you on th

‘You ride a bonny mare, friend!’ And then, his curiosity being satisfied about the essential, he turned his attention to that merely secondary matter, his companion’s fa

sary we should ride together. I will precede you, if you please.’ And he was about to set spu

hat! You’ll ride with me incog. and set me talking! But if I know you, you’ll preshede me, if you please!

t more than half in the possession of his senses. ‘Take your hand from my rein,’ he said, with a sufficient assumption of command; and when the man, rather to his wonder, had obeyed: ‘You should understand, sir,’ he add

you?’ cried the man with

ession. ‘You would not even show me the medal you wear about your neck.

w: a thick-fingered, tottering hand made a clutch at the tell-tale r

, with the word LIBERTAS.’ The medallist remaining speechless, ‘You are a pretty fellow,’ co

man. ‘Nay, never that; n

death. Nay, sir, death it is; I will guarantee my accuracy. Not that you need be so deplorably affec

. . ’ began the k

much desire it, I cannot find it in my heart to deprive you of my company. And for that matter, I have a question to address to you. W

rgled in h

devoted to my throne? I can scarce suppose it. Come, then; show me your majority, and I will instantly resign. Tell this to your friends; assure them from me of my docility; assure the

om me . . .’

Otto. ‘If I were you, I would leave conspiracies. You

he man. ‘It is not so much you tha

tempt: ‘I once more advise you to have done with politics,’ he added; ‘and when next I see you, let me

e the mills? Where are the young men that should be working? Where is the currency? All paralysed. No, sir, it is not equal; for I suffer for your faults — I pay for them, by George, out of a poor man’s pocket. And what have you to do with mine? Drunk o

ned up and, clumsi

he could not swallow. He had begun by receiving a reproof in manners, and ended by sustaining a defeat in logic, both from a man whom he despised. All his old thoughts returned with fresher ve

young gentleman dining, with a book in front of him. He had his own place laid cl

Herr Doctor Hohenstockwitz, cousin and librarian of your Prince her

o, ‘with the Herr Doctor, t

replied the young man politely: ‘an h

respected, I believe, for his

young men know anything of his cousin, all reigning Prince although he be? Who but has heard

addressing a student — perhap

sir, as you suppose,’ said he; ‘there is my card. I am the licentiate R

here in Grunewald we are on the brink of revolution. Pray, since these hav

cula. I am a convinced authoritarian. I share none of those illusory, Utopian fancies with which empirics bl

about me —’

o, we must explicitly condemn; they are behind the age. But I would look for a remedy not to brute convulsions, but to the natural supervenience of a more able sovereign. I should amuse you, perhaps,’ added the licentiate, with a smile, ‘I think I should amuse you if I were to explain my notion of a prince. We who have studied in the closet, no longer, in this age, propose ourselves for active service. The paths, we have perceived, are incompatible. I would not hav

would!’ excla

ly. ‘I thought I should astonish you,’ he s

I can assure

te, ‘not to-day. The time will come, ho

me, sir, to dou

sure you, a man like you, with such a man as, say, Doctor Gotthold

dle and given to half stages. And to find a convoy to Mittwalden, and thus mitigate the company of his own thoughts, the Prince had to make favour wit

alternately remembered and forgot the companion of their ride. Otto thus combined society and solitude, hearkening now to their chattering and empty talk, now to the voices of the encircling forest. The starlit dark, the

formal town glittered in a pattern, street crossing street; awa

was a native of the state. ‘There,’ said he, pointing

l it that?’ cried

d air, instantly took up in chorus. Her Serene Highness Amalia Seraphina, Princess of Grunewald, was the heroine, Gondremark the hero of this b

o the roosting birds. Hares rustled among the covert; here and there a statue stood glimmering, with its eternal gesture; here and there the echo of an imitation temple clattered ghostly to the trampling of the mare. Ten minutes brought him to the upper end of his own home garden, where the small stables opened, over a bridge, upon the park. The yard clock was striking the hour of ten; so was the big bell in the palace bell-tower; and, farther off, the belfries of the town. About the sta

-night,’ sa

ntern,’ sai

rcy!’ cried the g

‘Bring a lantern, take in the mare,

a while, his head still pr

last. ‘And why did your H

Mittwalden,’ answered Ott

hen he returned, even by the light of the lantern; and his

‘for God’s sake . . . . ’ And the

ke let us have cheaper corn, say I. Good-night!’ And he stro

odern pillared front, the ball-room, the great library, the princely apartments, the busy and illuminated quarters of that great house, all faced the town. The garden side was much older; and he

y of refuge. And now, when he was about midway of the descent, distant strains of music began to fall upon his ear from the ball-room, where the court was dancing. They reached him faint and broken, but they touched the keys of memory; and through and above them Otto heard the ranting melody of the wood-merchant

ut curiosity was dead in Otto’s mind, and he only chafed at the interruption. The porter of the back postern admitted him, and started to behold him so disordered. Thence, hasting by private stairs and passages, he came at length unseen to his own cha