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"There is, however, one favor I should like to ask," said the prince
"Can I grant it?"
"Easily I wish to leave a sum of money in trust, to be paid to one Gretchen Schwarz, who lives in the Kru stand between her and her desires"
"Granted"
The heart of the king, at the sound of that dear name, suddenly expanded and stifled him The stiffness went out of his shoulders
"Ah, this little world of ours, the mistakes and futile schemes we make upon it!" The chancellor dallied with his quill pen "It was a cynical irl first"
"Enough!" cried the king vehemently "Let us have no ed to you if you will sue which is to take us to the frontier The situation has been amicably and satisfactorily explained I see no reason e should be detained any longer"
"Nor I," added Prince Ludwig "I am rather weary of these tatters I should even like a bath"
The three of theular noise outside in the corridor The door swung in violently, crashing against the wall and shivering into ato, the prince, and the chancellor were instantly upon their feet The king clutched the back of his chair with a grip of iron: Gretchen? Her highness? What was Gretchen doing here? Ah, could he have flown! He muttered a curse at the chancellor for the delay But happily Gretchen did not see him
The duke came in first, and he waited till the others were inside; then he shut the door with lesser violence and rushed over to the chancellor
"Herbeck, you villain!"
The chancellor stared at the Gipsy, at Von Arnsberg, at Grumbach
"Herbeck, you black scoundrel!" cried the duke "Can you realize how difficult it is not to take you by the throat and strangle you here and now?"
"He is ainst the desk
"Yes I aed man Come here, you Gipsy!" The duke seized Herbeck's hand and pressed it down fiercely on the desk "Look at that and tell hness," said the Gipsy, without hesitation
The duke flung the hand aside As he did so soh at that instant he was not conscious of it
"It was you, you! It was your hand that wrecked my life, yours! Ah, is there such villainy? Are such men born and do they live? My wife dead, raced! And these two children: which is mine?"