"I can hear nothing, highness.... You must be a little feverish."
"Take a chair and come and sit by the head of the bed...."
The man did as he was told.
"And let me feel you near me: give me your hand, so...."
At last Othomar closed his eyes. In his ears the buzzing continued, still continued.... But under the very buzzing, while the lightness in his head lifted like a mist, the Crown-prince of Liparia fell asleep, his clammy hand in the hard hand of his body-servant, who watched his master's restless sleep in the quivering round the mouth, the jerking of the body, until, to quiet him, he softly stroked the throbbing forehead with his other hand, muttering compassionately, with his strange, national voice of caress:
"My poor princie!..."
The dawn rose outside; the daylight seemed to push the window-curtains asunder.
5
The next morning the duchess was to preside at the breakfast-table: she was in the dining-room with all the gentlemen when Othomar entered, as the last, with Dutri. His uniform of blue, white and silver fitted him tightly; and he saluted, smilingly, but a little stiffly, while Herman shook hands with him and the others bowed, the duchess curtseying deeply.
"How pale the prince looks!" Leoni said to Ducardi.