The Duke stopped to hear the cause of the tumult, and when they told him, he laughingly said, he would soon return with the gallows-knaves; then, turning to Appelmann, he asked who he was, and what brought him there?
When Johann gave his name, and said he was going to Stargard, his
Grace exclaimed, with surprise—
"So thou art the knave of whom I have heard so much; and this woman here, I suppose, is Sidonia? Pity of her. She is a handsome wench, I see."
Then, as Sidonia blushed and looked down, he continued—
"And where did the fellow get these fine horses? Would he sell them?"
Now Appelmann had a great mind to tell the truth, and say he got them from the equerry, who was already turning white with pure fear; but recollecting that he might come in for some of the punishment himself, besides hoping to play a second trick upon his Highness, he answered, that his father at Stargard had made them a present to him.
The Duke, now turning to his equerry, asked him—
"Would not these horses match his Andalusian stallions perfectly?"
And as the other tremblingly answered, "Yes, perfectly," his Grace demanded if the knave would sell them.
Ille.—"Oh yes; to gratify his Serene Highness the Duke, he would sell the horses for 3000 florins."