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lent music, sobering and dwarfing his emotions. 'Well, I forgive her,' he said. 'If it be of any use to her, I forgive.' And with brisk steps he crossed the garden, issued upon the Park, and came to the Flying Mercury. A dark figure moved forward from the shadow of the pedestal. 'I have to ask your pardon, sir,' a voice observed, 'but if I am right in taking you for the Prince, I was given to understand that you would be prepared to meet me.' 'Herr Gordon, I believe?' said Otto. 'Herr Oberst Gordon,' replied that officer. 'This is rather a ticklish business for a man to be embarked in; and to find that all is to go pleasantly is a great relief to me. The carriage is at hand; shall I have the honour of following your Highness?' 'Colonel,' said the Prince, 'I have now come to that happy moment of my life when I have orders to receive but none to give.' 'A most philosophical remark,' returned the Colonel. 'Begad, a very pertinent remark! it might be Plutarch. I am not a drop's blood to your Highness, or indeed to any one in this principality; or else I should dislike my orders. But as it is, and since there is nothing unnatural or unbecoming on my side, and your Highness takes it in good part, I begin to believe we may have a capital time together, sir--a capital time. For a gaoler is only a fellow-captive.' 'May I inquire, Herr Gordon,' asked Otto, 'what led you to accept this dangerous and I would fain hope thankless office?' 'Very natural, I am sure,' replied the officer of fortune. 'My pay is, in the meanwhile, doubled.' 'Well, sir, I will not presume to criticise,' returned the Prince. 'And I perceive the carriage.' Sure enough, at the intersection of two alleys of the Park, a coach and four, conspicuous by its lanterns, stood in waiting. And a little way off about a score of lancers were drawn up under the shadow of the trees. CHAPTER XIII--PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE THIRD SHE ENLIGHTENS SERAPHINA When Madame von Rosen left the Prince, she hurried straight to Colonel Gordon; and not content with directing the arrangements, she had herself accompanied the soldier of fortune to the Flying Mercury. The Colonel gave her his arm, and the talk between this pair of conspirators ran high and lively. The Countess, indeed, was in a whirl of pleasure and excitement; her tongue stumbled upon laughter, her eyes shone, the colour that was usually wanting now perfected her face. I
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