deeply
beloved by me, and he was an Englishman. He died in the uniform and under
the flag I reverence.'

'I rejoice that your Highness has had this experience of us. I have to
imagine that I expressed myself badly. My English training certainly does
not preclude the respect due to exalted rank. Your Highness will, I trust
humbly, pardon my offence. I do not excuse myself because I cannot
withdraw, and I am incapable of saying that I regret it.'

'In cool blood you utter that?' exclaimed the prince.

His amazement was unfeigned.

'What are the impossible, monstrous ideas you--where--? Who leads you to
fancy there is one earthly chance for you when you say you cannot
withdraw? Cannot? Are you requested? Are you consulted? It is a question
to be decided in the imperative: you must. What wheel it is you think you
have sufficient vigour to stop, I am profoundly unaware, but I am
prepared to affirm that it is not the wheel of my household. I would
declare it, were I a plain citizen. You are a nullity in the case, in
point of your individual will--a nullity swept away with one wave of the
hand. You can do this, and nothing else: you can apologize, recognize
your station, repair a degree of mischief that I will not say was
preconceived or plotted. So for awhile pursue your studies, your travels.
In time it will give me pleasure to receive you. Mr. Richmond,' he added,
smiling and rising; 'even the head of a little German principality has to
give numberless audiences.' His features took a more cordial smile to
convince me that the dismissing sentence was merely playful.

As for me, my mind was confused by the visible fact that the father's
features resembled the daughter's. I mention it, that my mind's condition
may be understood.

Hardly had I been bowed out of the room when my father embraced me, and
some minutes later I heard Prince Otto talking to me and demanding
answers. That he or any one else should have hostile sentiments toward a
poor devil like me seemed strange. My gift of the horse appeared to anger
him most. I reached the chateau without once looking back, a dispirited
wretch. I shut myself up; I tried to read. The singular brevity of my
interview with the prince, from which I had expected great if not
favourable issues, affected me as though I had been struck by a cannon
shot; my brains were nowhere. His perfect courtesy was confounding. I was
tormented by the delusion that I had behaved pusillanimously.