IV.
The next morning early Mark was sent for to the Prince. He was shown into the dressing-room, but the Prince was already dressed. He was seated in an easy-chair reading a small closely-printed sheet of paper, upon which the word "Wien" was conspicuous to the boy. The Prince bade the little schoolmaster be seated on a fauteuil near him, and looked so kindly that he felt quite at his ease.
"Well! little one," said the Prince, "how findest thou thyself? Hast thou found any friends yet in this place?"
"The Signorina has been very kind to me, Highness," said the boy.
"Ah!" said the Prince, smiling, "thou hast found that out already. That is not so bad. I thought you two would be friends. What has the Signorina told thee?"
"She has told me of the actors who are so clever and so strange. She says that they are all in love with her."
"That is not unlikely. And what else?"
"She has told me of the Princess and of her servente."
"Indeed!" said the Prince, with the slightest possible appearance of increased interest; "what does she say of the Princess?"
"She says that she is a bad woman, and that she hates her."