'Sir John Crabtree,' interposed Gotthold, looking up, 'was arrested
yesterday evening.'

'It this so, Herr Cancellarius?' demanded Otto sternly.

'It was judged right, your Highness,' protested Greisengesang. 'The
decree was in due form, invested with your Highness's authority by
procuration. I am but an agent; I had no status to prevent the measure.'

'This man, my guest, has been arrested,' said the Prince. 'On what
grounds, sir? With what colour of pretence?'

The Chancellor stammered.

'Your Highness will perhaps find the reason in these documents,' said
Gotthold, pointing with the tail of his pen.

Otto thanked his cousin with a look. 'Give them to me,' he said,
addressing the Chancellor.

But that gentleman visibly hesitated to obey. 'Baron von Gondremark,' he
said, 'has made the affair his own. I am in this case a mere messenger;
and as such, I am not clothed with any capacity to communicate the
documents I carry. Herr Doctor, I am convinced you will not fail to bear
me out.'

'I have heard a great deal of nonsense,' said Gotthold, 'and most of it
from you; but this beats all.'

'Come, sir,' said Otto, rising, 'the papers. I command.'

Herr Greisengesang instantly gave way.

'With your Highness's permission,' he said, 'and laying at his feet my
most submiss apologies, I will now hasten to attend his further orders in
the Chancery.'

'Herr Cancellarius, do you see this chair?' said Otto. 'There is where
you shall attend my further orders. O, now, no more!' he cried, with a
gesture, as the old man opened his lips. 'You have sufficiently marked
your zeal to your employer; and I begin to weary of a moderation you
abuse.'

The Chancellor moved to the appointed chair and took his seat in silence.

'And now,' said Otto, opening the roll, 'what is all this? it looks like
the manuscript of a book.'

'It is,' said Gotthold, 'the manuscript of a book of travels.'

'You have read it, Doctor Hohenstockwitz?' asked the Prince.

'Nay, I but saw the title-page,' replied Gotthold. 'But the roll was
given to me open, and I heard no word of any secrecy.'

Otto dealt the Chancellor an angry glance.

'I see,' he went on. 'The papers of an author seized at this date of the
world's history, in a state so petty and so ignorant as Grunewald, here
is indeed an ignominious folly. Sir,' to the Chancellor, 'I marvel to
find you in so scurvy an employment. On your conduct to your Prince I
will not dwell