ch your Highness has so wisely
dissociated his leisure . . . ' began Greisengesang.

'We will leave my leisure, sir,' said Otto. 'Approach the facts.'

'The routine of business was proceeded with,' replied the official, now
visibly twittering.

'It is very strange, Herr Cancellarius, that you should so persistently
avoid my questions,' said the Prince. 'You tempt me to suppose a purpose
in your dulness. I have asked you whether all was quiet; do me the
pleasure to reply.'

'Perfectly--O, perfectly quiet,' jerked the ancient puppet, with every
signal of untruth.

'I make a note of these words,' said the Prince gravely. 'You assure me,
your sovereign, that since the date of my departure nothing has occurred
of which you owe me an account.'

'I take your Highness, I take the Herr Doctor to witness,' cried
Greisengesang, 'that I have had no such expression.'

'Halt!' said the Prince; and then, after a pause: 'Herr Greisengesang,
you are an old man, and you served my father before you served me,' he
added. 'It consists neither with your dignity nor mine that you should
babble excuses and stumble possibly upon untruths. Collect your
thoughts; and then categorically inform me of all you have been charged
to hide.'

Gotthold, stooping very low over his desk, appeared to have resumed his
labours; but his shoulders heaved with subterranean merriment. The
Prince waited, drawing his handkerchief quietly through his fingers.

'Your Highness, in this informal manner,' said the old gentleman at last,
'and being unavoidably deprived of documents, it would be difficult, it
would be impossible, to do justice to the somewhat grave occurrences
which have transpired.'

'I will not criticise your attitude,' replied the Prince. 'I desire
that, between you and me, all should be done gently; for I have not
forgotten, my old friend, that you were kind to me from the first, and
for a period of years a faithful servant. I will thus dismiss the
matters on which you waive immediate inquiry. But you have certain
papers actually in your hand. Come, Herr Greisengesang, there is at
least one point for which you have authority. Enlighten me on that.'

'On that?' cried the old gentleman. 'O, that is a trifle; a matter, your
Highness, of police; a detail of a purely administrative order. These
are simply a selection of the papers seized upon the English traveller.'

'Seized?' echoed Otto. 'In what sense? Explain yourself.'