And they said he was so handsome when he was young!'

'And bald, too,' added Fritz.

Otto passed his hand among his locks. At that moment he was far

from happy, and even the tedious evenings at Mittwalden Palace began

to smile upon him by comparison.

'O, six-and-thirty!' he protested. 'A man is not yet old at six-

and-thirty. I am that age myself.'

'I should have taken you for more, sir,' piped the old farmer. 'But

if that be so, you are of an age with Master Ottekin, as people call

him; and, I would wager a crown, have done more service in your

time. Though it seems young by comparison with men of a great age

like me, yet it's some way through life for all that; and the mere

fools and fiddlers are beginning to grow weary and to look old.

Yes, sir, by six-and-thirty, if a man be a follower of God's laws,

he should have made himself a home and a good name to live by; he

should have got a wife and a blessing on his marriage; and his

works, as the Word says, should begin to follow him.'

'Ah, well, the Prince is married,' cried Fritz, with a coarse burst

of laughter.

'That seems to entertain you, sir,' said Otto.

'Ay,' said the young boor. 'Did you not know that? I thought all

Europe knew it!' And he added a pantomime of a nature to explain

his accusation to the dullest.

'Ah, sir,' said Mr. Gottesheim, 'it is very plain that you are not

from hereabouts! But the truth is, that the whole princely family

and Court are rips and rascals, not one to mend another. They live,

sir, in idleness and - what most commonly follows it - corruption.

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