Perhaps the King had heard of the duel. I was in a mood to care but little what the King had heard, or what he was going to do. The thing uppermost in my mind was that Gretchen had begged my life of the Prince—and then run away!
At the palace the Chancellor met me in the anteroom. His face was grave almost to gloominess.
"Have you ever seen a King angry?" he asked. "Ah, it is not a pleasant sight, on my word; least of all, to the one who has caused a King's anger."
"You alarm me," I said. "Have I done aught to bring the anger of the
King upon my head?"
"Ah, but you have! The King is like a bear in his den. He walks back and forth, waving his hands, pulling his mustache and muttering dire threats."
"Might I not take to my legs?" I asked. After all, I cared more than I thought I should in regard to what the King might do to me.
The Chancellor gave my back a sounding thump, and roared with laughter.
"Cheerful, my son; be cheerful! You are a favorite already."
"You bewilder me."
"You have powerful friends; and if the King is angry you need have no fear."