“I see you have a very poor opinion of my character for business,” he returned jestingly. “But, unfortunately, I have found it does not do to be always playing; and you will find that out, too, if you ever come to the throne.”
He stopped, and fidgeted for a moment under the boy’s steady, disconcerting stare. His nerves seemed to be affected by some influence in the atmosphere, and he shivered slightly.
“Why do you look at me like that, Ernest?” he demanded petulantly.
The lad’s expression became gravely sorrowful.
“Because I want to see what it is like to be mad!”
CHAPTER XXI
THE BLOW FALLS
“I want to see what it is like to be mad.”
The words struck on Maximilian’s ear like the grinding crash of a collision upon the ear of the sailor sleeping peacefully in his berth, far out upon the waste of waters. He sprang to his feet, and confronted the young Prince with terrible eyes.
“What are you saying? Who taught you that?”
Ernest recoiled, terror-stricken.