country highly favoured by God; for of all generous gentlemen, I

will say it on my conscience, this one is the king. I am an old

man, and I have seen good and bad, and the year of the great famine;

but a more excellent gentleman, no, never.'

'We know that,' cried the landlord, 'we know that well in Grunewald.

If we saw more of his Highness we should be the better pleased.'

'It is the kindest Prince,' began the groom, and suddenly closed his

mouth upon a sob, so that every one turned to gaze upon his emotion

- Otto not last; Otto struck with remorse, to see the man so

grateful.

Then it was the lawyer's turn to pay a compliment. 'I do not know

what Providence may hold in store,' he said, 'but this day should be

a bright one in the annals of your reign. The shouts of armies

could not be more eloquent than the emotion on these honest faces.'

And the Brandenau lawyer bowed, skipped, stepped back, and took

snuff, with the air of a man who has found and seized an

opportunity.

'Well, young gentleman,' said Killian, 'if you will pardon me the

plainness of calling you a gentleman, many a good day's work you

have done, I doubt not, but never a better, or one that will be

better blessed; and whatever, sir, may be your happiness and triumph

in that high sphere to which you have been called, it will be none

the worse, sir, for an old man's blessing!'

The scene had almost assumed the proportions of an ovation; and when

the Prince escaped he had but one thought: to go wherever he was

most sure of praise. His conduct at the board of council occurred

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