mice, and pull this piece of machinery to ground. You were brisk enough
last night when nothing was at stake and all was frolic. Well, here is
better sport; here is life indeed."

He got to his feet with some alacrity, and his face, which was a little
flushed, bore the marks of resolution.

"Madame von Rosen," said he, "I am neither unconscious nor ungrateful;
this is the true continuation of your friendship; but I see that I must
disappoint your expectations. You seem to expect from me some effort of
resistance; but why should I resist? I have not much to gain; and now
that I have read this paper, and the last of a fool's paradise is
shattered, it would be hyperbolical to speak of loss in the same breath
with Otto of Gruenewald. I have no party, no policy; no pride, nor
anything to be proud of. For what benefit or principle under Heaven do
you expect me to contend? Or would you have me bite and scratch like a
trapped weasel? No, madam; signify to those who sent you my readiness to
go. I would at least avoid a scandal."

"You go?--of your own will, you go?" she cried.

"I cannot say so much, perhaps," he answered; "but I go with good
alacrity. I have desired a change some time; behold one offered me!
Shall I refuse? Thank God, I am not so destitute of humour as to make a
tragedy of such a farce." He flicked the order on the table. "You may
signify my readiness," he added grandly.

"Ah," she said, "you are more angry than you own."

"I, madam? angry?" he cried. "You rave! I have no cause for anger. In
every way I have been taught my weakness, my instability, and my
unfitness for the world. I am a plexus of weaknesses, an impotent
Prince, a doubtful gentleman; and you yourself, indulgent as you are,
have twice reproved my levity. And shall I be angry? I may feel the
unkindness, but I have sufficient honesty of mind to see the reasons of
this _coup d'etat_."

"From whom have you got this?" she cried in wonder. "You think you have
not behaved well? My Prince, were you not young and handsome, I should
detest you for your virtues. You push them to the verge of commonplace.
And this ingratitude----"

"Understand me, Madame von Rosen," returned the Prince, flushing a
little darker, "there can be here no talk of gratitude, none of pride.
You are here, by what circumstance I know not, but doubtless led by your
kindness, mixed up in what regards my family alone. You have no
knowledge what my wife, your sovereign, may have