Fiction > Book editions > London, 1886 - Prince Otto

-o PRINCE OTTO
'All, sir,' said Mr. Gotteslieim, 'it is very
plain that you are not from hereabouts ! But
the truth is, that the whole princely family and
Court are rips and rascals, not one to mend
another. They live, sir, in idleness and — what
most commonly follows it — corruption. The
Princess has a lover ; a Baron, as he calls him-
self, from East Prussia; and the Prince is so
little of a man, sir, that he holds the candle.
Nor is that the worst of it, for this foreigner and
his paramour are suffered to transact the State
affairs, while the Prince takes the salary and
leaves all things to go to wrack. There will
follow upon this some manifest judgment which,
though I am old, I may survive to see.'
' Good man, you are in the wrong about
Gondremark,' said Fritz, showing a greatly
increased animation ; ' but for all the rest, you
speak the God's truth like a good patriot. As
for the Prince, if he would take and strangle his
wife, I would forgive him yet.'
' Nay, Fritz,' said the old man, ' that would
be to add iniquity to evil. For you perceive,
sir,' he continued, once more addressing himself
to the unfortunate Prince, ' this Otto has himself
to thank for these disorders. He has his young
wife and his principality, and he has sworn to
cherish both.'
' Sworn at the altar ! ' echoed Fritz. ' But
put your faith in princes ! '