"Prince," said the King, laughing in spite of his efforts to appear angry, "for pity's sake, tell me what this man is talking about!"
"A woman," said the Chancellor. "Perhaps Her Highness the Princess Hildegarde. . . . That is, I believe. . . . She may love this man . . . perhaps thinking he loves the other. . ." He was mocking me, and my face burned.
"Prince, do not confuse the man; he is bad enough as it is." The King smoothed away the remnant of the smile.
"Your Majesty is right," said I, desperately. "I am confused. I know not what to say."
"What would you do in my place?" asked the King of the Chancellor.
"I should say in an ominous voice, 'Young man, you may go; but if you ever enter our presence again without either one or the other of the Hohenphalian Princesses as your wife, we shall confiscate your property and put you in a dungeon for the remainder of your natural days.' I put in the confiscation clause as a matter of form. Have you any property?"
"What I have," I answered, my confidence returning, "I can put in my pockets."
"Good," said the King. "What the Chancellor says is but just. See to it that his directions are followed."
"Now, my King," concluded the Chancellor, "put a medal on him and let him go."
"In time," replied the King. "You may go, Herr Winthrop."