I asked his pardon—but indeed I had not come so nigh him as that.
"I am to fight in a private quarrel," said I, "and, truth to tell, I sorely want a second, and was pondering whom to ask."
The Prince sighed.
"Ah, lad," he said, "once I had wished no better than to stand up at your side myself. I was not a Prince then though; and again, these laws—these too strict laws of mine! But what is the matter of your duel, and with whom?"
"Well," said I, "I have slapped Count von Reuss's chafts with his own glove, in the midst of his friends, on the upper terrace."
'Tis possible I may be mistaken, I suppose, but I did think then, and still do think, that I saw evident tokens of pleasure on the face of the Prince.
"And the cause—"
I hesitated, blushing temple-high, I dare say, in spite of the growth of my mustaches.
"A woman, then!" cried the Prince. Then, more low, he added, "Not the—?"
He would have said the Princess, for he paused, in his turn, with a graver look on his face.