e first, sir: he is killing himself here!"

"Very well, but next save _him!_" shouted Oscar, fiercely.

The other doctors had given orders: a tub was brought in, filled with
lukewarm water, regulated by a thermometer.... But Othomar saw no more:
he rushed away, driven out by Barzia's stern glances. He rushed along
the corridors, through a group of officers and chamberlains, who stood
anxiously whispering and made way for him. He plunged into his own room,
which was not lighted. In the dark, he thought he was flinging himself
upon a couch, but bumped upon the ground. There he remained lying. Then,
as though crushed by the darkness, he began to croon, to moan, to sob
aloud, with sharp, hysterical cries.

Andro entered; his foot struck against the prince. He lit the gas, tried
to lift his master. But Othomar lay heavy as lead; fierce and prolonged,
his nervous cries came jolting from his throat. Andro rang, once, twice,
three times; he went on ringing for a long time; at last a footman and a
chamberlain appeared together, at different doors.

"Call Professor Barzia!" cried Andro to the footman. "Excellency, will
you help me lift his highness?" he begged the chamberlain.

But, when the footman turned round, he ran against the professor, who
could do nothing for the little prince and had followed the
crown-prince. He saw Othomar lying on the floor, moaning, screaming....

"Leave me alone with his highness," he ordered, with a glance around
him.

The chamberlain, Andro, the footman obeyed his order.

The professor was a tall old man, heavily-built and strong; he
approached the prince and lifted him in his arms, notwithstanding the
leaden heaviness of hysteria. Thus he held him, merely with his arms
around him, upon the couch and looked deep into his eyes, with hypnotic
glances. Suddenly Othomar ceased his cries; his voice was hushed. His
head fell feebly upon Barzia's shoulder. The professor continued to hold
him in his arms. The prince became calm, like a quieted child, without
Barzia's having uttered a word.

"May I request your highness to go to bed?" said the professor, with a
gentle voice of command.

He assisted Othomar to get up and himself lit the light in the bedroom
and helped the prince off with his coat.

"What has made your highness' ear bleed?" asked Barzia, whose fingers
were soiled with clotted blood.

"A revolver-shot," Othomar began, faintly; his closed and averted eyes
told the rest.

The pr