Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

ii6 PRINCE OTTO
manage, like the man who can fight, must never
shrink from an encounter. The knight must
not disgrace his weapons.'
' Tlien let me pray my helle dame sans
merci,' he returned, ' to affect the only virtue
that she lacks. Be pitiful to the poor young
man ; affect an interest in his hunting ; be
weary of politics ; find in his society, as it
were, a grateful repose from dry considera-
tions. Does my Princess authorise the line of
battle ? '
' Well, that is a trifle,' answered Seraphina.
' The council — there is the point.'
' The council ? ' cried Gondremark. ' Permit
me, madam.' And he rose and proceeded to
flutter about the room, counterfeiting Otto both
in voice and gesture not unhappily. ' What is
there to-day, Herr von Gondremark ? Ah,
Herr Cancellarius, a new wig ! You cannot
deceive me ; I know every wig in Griinewald ;
I have the sovereign's eye. What are these
papers about ? 0, 1 see. 0, certainly. Surely,
surely. I wager none of you remarked that wig.
By all means. I know nothing about that.
Dear me, are there as many as all that ? Well,
you can sign them ; you have the procuration.
You see, Herr Cancellarius, I knew your wig/
And so,' concluded Gondremark, resuming his
own voice, ' our sovereign, by the j)articular