ss unwell?"

"A little giddy, Andro; it is passing off already."

"But is your highness right in going? Had I not better send for Prince
Dutri?"

Othomar shook his head decidedly and rose:

"No, I'm late as it is, Andro. Come, help me with my things...."

And he entered his dressing-room.

He appeared at the dinner, but made excuses to the officers for his
evident languor. He just joined in the toasts by raising his glass, with
a smile. It struck them all that he looked very ill, emaciated,
hollow-eyed and white as chalk in his white-and-gold uniform.
Immediately after dinner he returned to the Imperial, without
accompanying them to the Imperial Jockey Club, the club of the _jeunesse
doree_.

He slept heavily; a misty dream hovered through his night. The man who
had tried to murder him at Zanti's grinned at him with clenched fists;
then the scene changed to the Gothlandic sea and he rowed Valerie along,
but, however hard he rowed, the three towers of the castle always drew
farther away, unapproachable....

When he awoke, it was already past eight. He reflected that it was too
late for his usual morning ride and remained lying where he was. He rang
for Andro:

"Why didn't you wake me at seven o'clock?"

"Your highness was sleeping so soundly, I dared not; your highness was
not well yesterday...."

"And so you just let me sleep? Very well.... Send word to her majesty
... that I am not well."

The man looked at him anxiously:

"What is the matter with your highness?"

"I don't know, Andro ... I am a little tired. Where's Djalo?"

"Here, highness...."

The collie ran in noisily, put its great paws on the camp-bed, wriggled
its haunches wildly to and fro as it wagged its tail....

Then, suddenly, it lay down quietly beside the bed.

The empress sent back to say that she would come at once; she was not
yet dressed.... With calm, open eyes Othomar lay waiting for her.

She entered at last, a little agitated with anxiety. She questioned him,
but learnt nothing from his vague, smiling replies. She laid her hand on
his forehead, felt his pulse and could not make up her mind whether he
had any fever. There was typhoid about: she was afraid of it....

The physicians-in-ordinary were called and relieved her mind: there was
no fever. The prince seemed generally tired; he had doubtless
over-exerted himself lately. He must rest....

The emperor was astonished: the prince had just been resting and had
stayed