“Yes,” replied the other, “we have traveled all through Germany, from Moravia to Westphalia—good riding in sixteen days.”
He took off his hat as he spoke, and flung himself into the first chair he came to with a careless ease very displeasing to the Governor of Stralsund.
“You came a long way round,” he remarked.
“The journey, sir, could have been made shorter by half.”
The stranger looked full at the speaker; his face looked pale between the full curls of the black peruke; his blue eyes, that were of an unusual size and brilliancy, held a curious expression.
“Is it possible,” he said, “that my most loyal subjects have forgotten me?”
“By Heaven,” cried General Dücker, in a loud voice, “it is the King!”
He threw himself on his knees and kissed Karl’s hand.
“It is the King come back!”
“And not too soon, General Dücker,” smiled Karl. “Come, I will sleep a little.”