On the days when public audience is given,
the humblest person is admitted without difficulty, and nothing is
expected from him except that he will appear as clean and whole as
possible, no matter how shabby he may be. The people are well aware of
this and, at every opportunity, profit by the facility afforded to
reach the king; there are persons who go to the monarch with a matter
which, in other countries, a village magistrate would decide without
farther appeal.

So Panna left her carriage at a peasant tavern outside of the city, and
went on foot directly to the castle at Ofen. The audience began at
twelve o'clock, and it still lacked half an hour of this time. Panna
passed through the outer door unrestrained, and was first asked what
she desired by a guard on duty at the foot of the staircase leading to
the royal apartments. Panna answered fearlessly that she was going to
the audience, and the guardsman kindly showed her the way.

At the head of the stairs another official met her with the same query,
and she gave the same reply. But this time the official also asked for
her certificate of admission. Panna did not know what it was, and the
functionary then explained that the king's audience chamber could not
be entered so unceremoniously from the street, but a person must first
announce himself and state his business, after which he received notice
of the time when he was to present himself. Of course it would be too
late for to day, but she could be registered for the next audience,
which would be given in a fortnight. She probably had her petition
with her, she need merely give it to him, and he would attend to
everything for her the friendly man said at the close of his
explanation.

Panna was obliged to confess that she had no petition, as she had
thought that she would be able to tell the king the whole story
verbally.

The smiling functionary explained the mistake. She must write the
petition, for the king at the utmost would have only one or two minutes
for her, and no long story could be told in that time; besides, she
could not be recorded without a petition.

Panna became much dispirited and out of temper. She again saw beloved
illusions disappear. She had imagined everything to be far smoother,
more simple, easier, and now here also there were difficulties. She
dejectedly followed her guide into an office, where she had all sorts
of questions to answer about her name, residence, etc.,