It is I, the Prince," replied Otto. "Bring a lantern, take in the mare,
and let me through into the garden."

The man remained silent for a while, his head still projecting through
the wicket.

"His Highness!" he said at last. "And why did your Highness knock so
strange?"

"It is a superstition in Mittwalden," answered Otto, "that it cheapens
corn."

With a sound like a sob the groom fled. He was very white when he
returned, even by the light of the lantern; and his hand trembled as he
undid the fastenings and took the mare.

"Your Highness," he began at last, "for God's sake...." And there he
paused, oppressed with guilt.

"For God's sake, what?" asked Otto cheerfully. "For God's sake let us
have cheaper corn, say I. Good-night!" And he strode off into the
garden, leaving the groom petrified once more.

The garden descended by a succession of stone terraces to the level of
the fish-pond. On the far side the ground rose again, and was crowned by
the confused roofs and gables of the palace. The modern pillared front,
the ball-room, the great library, the princely apartments, the busy and
illuminated quarters of that great house, all faced the town. The garden
side was much older; and here it was almost dark; only a few windows
quietly lighted at various elevations. The great square tower rose,
thinning by stages like a telescope; and on the top of all the flag hung
motionless.

The garden, as it now lay in the dusk and glimmer of the starshine,
breathed of April violets. Under night's cavern arch the shrubs
obscurely bustled. Through the plotted terraces and down the marble
stairs the Prince rapidly descended, fleeing before uncomfortable
thoughts. But, alas! from these there is no city of refuge. And now,
when he was about midway of the descent, distant strains of music began
to fall upon his ear from the ball-room, where the court was dancing.
They reached him faint and broken, but they touched the keys of memory;
and through and above them, Otto heard the ranting melody of the
wood-merchants' song. Mere blackness seized upon his mind. Here he was
coming home; the wife was dancing, the husband had been playing a trick
upon a lackey; and meanwhile, all about them, they were a by-word to
their subjects. Such a prince, such a husband, such a man, as this Otto
had become! And he sped the faster onward.

Some way below he came unexpectedly upon a sentry; yet a little farther,
and he was challenged by a second; a