Fiction > Book editions > London, 1888 - Prince Otto

«68 PRINCE OTTO
is if anything more dangerous) a regular life.
A sound creed and a bad morality, that's the
root of wisdom. You two gentlemen are too
good to be forgiving.'
'The paradox is somewhat forced,' said
Gotthold.
' Pardon me. Colonel,' said the Prince ; ' I
readily acquit you of any design of offence, but
your words bite like satire. Is this a time, do
you think, when I can wish to hear myself called
good, now that I am paying the penalty (and
am willing like yourself to think it just) of my
prolonged misconduct ? '
' 0, pardon me ! ' cried the Colonel. ' You
have never been expelled from the divinity hall ;
you have never been broke. I was : broke
for a neglect of military duty. To tell you the
open truth, your Highness, I was the worse of
drink ; it's a thing I never do now,' he added,
taking out his glass. ' But a man, you see, who
has really tasted the defects of his own character,
as I have, and has come to regard himself as
a kind of blind teetotum knocking about life,
begins to learn a very different view about for-
giveness. I will talk of not forgiving others,
sir, when I have made out to forgive myself,
and not before ; and the date is like to be a
long one. My father, the Eeverend Alexander
Gordon, was a good man, and damned hard