Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 9, 1895 - Romances Volume II

THE PRINCE DELIVERS
* O Seraphina, Seraphina ! ' he cried. And that
was the end of their interview.
She tripped to a window and looked out ; and a
little after, the chamberlain announced the Freiherr
von Gondremark, who entered with something of a
wild eye and changed complexion, confounded, as he
was, at this unusual summons. The Princess faced
round from the window with a pearly smile ; nothing
but her heightened colour spoke of discomposure.
Otto was pale, but he was otherwise master of
himself.
* Herr von Gondremark,' said he, ' oblige me so
far : reconduct the Princess to her own apartment.'
The Baron, still all at sea, offered his hand, which
was smilingly accepted, and the pair sailed forth
through the picture-gallery.
As soon as they were gone, and Otto knew the
length and breadth of his miscarriage, and how he
had done the contrary of all that he intended, he
stood stupefied. A fiasco so complete and sweeping
was laughable, even to himself; and he laughed
aloud in his wrath. Upon this mood there followed
the sharpest violence of remorse ; and to that again,
as he recalled his provocation, anger succeeded
afresh. So he was tossed in spirit; now bewailing
his inconsequence and lack of temper, now flaming
up in white-hot indignation and a noble pity for
himself.
He paced his apartment like a leopard. There
was danger in Otto, for a flash. Like a pistol, he
could kill at one moment, and the next he might be
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