cal alarm mingled with his remorse, for the fellow was very
powerful, and not more than half in the possession of his senses. "Take
your hand from my rein," he said, with a sufficient assumption of
command; and when the man, rather to his wonder, had obeyed: "You should
understand, sir," he added, "that while I might be glad to ride with you
as one person of sagacity with another, and so receive your true
opinions, it would amuse me very little to hear the empty compliments
you would address to me as Prince."

"You think I would lie, do you?" cried the man with the bottle, purpling
deeper.

"I know you would," returned Otto, entering entirely into his
self-possession. "You would not even show me the medal you wear about
your neck." For he had caught a glimpse of a green ribbon at the
fellow's throat.

The change was instantaneous: the red face became mottled with yellow; a
thick-fingered, tottering hand made a clutch at the tell-tale ribbon.
"Medal!" the man cried, wonderfully sobered. "I have no medal."

"Pardon me," said the Prince. "I will even tell you what that medal
bears: a Phoenix burning, with the word _Libertas_." The medallist
remaining speechless, "You are a pretty fellow," continued Otto,
smiling, "to complain of incivility from the man whom you conspire to
murder."

"Murder!" protested the man. "Nay, never that; nothing criminal for me!"

"You are strangely misinformed," said Otto. "Conspiracy itself is
criminal, and ensures the pain of death. Nay, sir, death it is; I will
guarantee my accuracy. Not that you need be so deplorably affected, for
I am no officer. But those who mingle with politics should look at both
sides of the medal."

"Your Highness ..." began the knight of the bottle.

"Nonsense! you are a Republican," cried Otto; "what have you to do with
highnesses? But let us continue to ride forward. Since you so much
desire it, I cannot find it in my heart to deprive you of my company.
And for that matter, I have a question to address to you. Why, being so
great a body of men--for you are a great body--fifteen thousand, I have
heard, but that will be understated; am I right?"

The man gurgled in his throat.

"Why, then, being so considerable a party," resumed Otto, "do you not
come before me boldly with your wants?--what do I say? with your
commands? Have I the name of being passionately devoted to my throne? I
can scarce suppose it. Come, then; show me your majority, and I will
instant