ry of the wife of his youth. (How the years,
the good and bad, crowd behind us, pressing us on and on!) However,
there was always surcease in the cellars--that is, the Doppelkinn
cellars.

"Ha!" he roared as he saw the blinking Max. "So this is the fellow!"
He made an eloquent gesture. "Your Highness must be complimented upon
your good taste. The fellow isn't bad-looking."

"When you listen to reason, Prince," replied the girl calmly, "you will
apologize to the gentleman and give him his liberty."

"Oh, he is a gentleman, is he?"

"You might learn from him many of the common rules of
courtesy,"--tranquilly.

"Who the devil are you?" the prince demanded of Max.

"I should be afraid to tell you. I hold that I am Max Scharfenstein,
but the colonel here declares that my name is Ellis. Who are you?"
Max wasn't the least bit frightened. These were not feudal times.

The prince stared at him. The insolent puppy!

"I am the prince."

"Ah, your serene Highness,"--began Max, bowing.

"I am not called 'serene'"--rudely. "The grand duke is 'serene.'"

"Permit me to doubt that," interposed the girl, smiling.

Max laughed aloud, which didn't improve his difficulties any.

"I have asked you who you are!" bawled the prince, his nose turning
purple.

"My name is Max Scharfenstein. I am an American. If you will wire the
American consulate at Barscheit, you will learn that I have spoken the
truth. All this is a mistake. The princess did not elope with me."

"His papers give the name of Ellis," said the colonel, touching his cap.

"Humph! We'll soon find out who he is and what may be done with him.
I'll wait for the duke. Take him into the library and lock the door.
It's a hundred feet out of the window, and if he wants to break his
neck, he may do so. It will save us so much trouble. Take him away;
take him away!" his rage boiling to the surface.

The princess shrugged.

"I can't talk to you either," said the prince, turning his glowering
eyes upon the girl. "I can't trust myself."

"Oh, do not mind me. I understand that your command of expletives is
rather original. Go on; it will be my only opportunity." The princess
rocked backward and forward on the divan. Wasn't it funny!

"Lord help me, and I was perfectly willing to marry this girl!" The
prince suddenly calmed down. "What have I ever done to offend you?"

"Nothing," she was forced to admit.

"I was lonely. I wanted youth about. I