Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

256 PRINCE OTTO
He put forth his stick and touched her ; and
at that she awoke, sat up with a cry, and looked
upon him wildly.
' I trust your Highness has slept well,' he
said, nodding.
But she only uttered sounds.
' Compose yourself,' said he, giving her cer-
tainly a brave example in his own demeanour.
' My chaise is close at hand ; and I shall have, I
trust, the singular entertainment of abducting a
sovereign Princess.'
' Sir John ! ' she said, at last.
' At your Highness's disposal,' he replied.
She sprang to her feet. ' 0,' she cried, ' have
you come from Mittwalden ? '
' This morning,' he returned, ' I left it ; and
if there is any one less likely to return to it than
yourself, behold him ! '
' The Baron ' she began, and paused.
' Madam,' he answered, ' it was well meant,
and you are quite a Judith ; but after the hours
that have elapsed, you will probably be relieved
to hear that he is fairly well. I took his news
this morning ere I left. Doing fairly well, they
said, but suffering acutely. Hey ? — acutely.
They could hear his groans in the next room.'
' And the Prince,' she asked, ' is anything
known of him ? '
' It is reported,' replied Sir Jolm, with the