Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

A ROMANCE 23
and eacli man with a medal round his neck to
rally by. That's all Gondremark.'
' Ay, sir, you see what it leads to : wild talk
to-day, and wilder doings to-morrow,' said the
old man. ' For there is one thing certain : that
this Gondremark has one foot in the Court
backstairs, and the other in the Masons' lodges.
He gives himself out, sir, for what nowadays
they call a patriot : a man from East Prussia ! '
' Give himself out ! ' cried Fritz. 'He is !
He is to lay by his title as soon as the Eepublic
is declared ; I heard it in a speech.'
' Lay by Baron to take up President ? ' re-
turned Killian. ' King Log, King Stork. But
you'll Hve longer than I, and you will see the
fruits of it.'
' Father,' whispered Ottiha, pulhng at the
speaker's coat, ' surely the gentleman is ill.'
' I beg your pardon,' cried the farmer, re-
waking to hospitable thoughts ; ' can I offer you
anything ? '
' I thank you. I am very weary,' answered
Otto. ' I have presumed upon my strength. K
you would show me to a bed, I should be
grateful.'
' Ottilia, a candle I ' said the old man. ' In-
deed, sir, you look paley. A little cordial water ?
No ? Then follow me, I beseech you, and I
will bring yoa to the stranger's bed. You are