"Eh?" closely scanning Maurice's white face."Well, well! is it you, Monsieur Carewe?""Lieutenant von Mitter?" cried Maurice, dropping the dog, who by now had grasped the meaning of it all."You came just in time!"They shook hands.
"I'll lay odds that you put up a good fight," the Lieutenant said, pleasantly."Curse these students! If I had my way I'd coop them all up in their pest-hole of a university and blow them into eternity.""And how did the dog come in this part of the town?" asked Maurice, picking up his hat.
"He was with her Royal Highness.This is charity afternoon.She drives about giving alms to the poor, and when she enters a house the dog stands at the entrance to await her return.She came out of another door and forgot the dog.Max there remembered him only when we were several blocks away.A dozen or so of those rascally students stood opposite us when we stopped here.It flashed on me in a minute why the dog did not follow us.
And we came back at a cut, leaving her Highness with no one but the groom.Max, take the dog to her Highness, and tell her that it is Monsieur Carewe who is to be thanked."Maurice blushed."Say nothing of my part in the fracas.It was nothing at all.""Don't be modest, my friend," said the cuirassier, laughing, while his comrade dismounted, took the dog under his arm, and made off."This is one chance in a lifetime.Her Royal Highness will insist on thanking you personally.O, I know Mademoiselle's caprices.And there's your hat, crushed all out of shape.Truly, you are unfortunate with your headgear.""It's felt," said Maurice, slapping it against his leg."No harm done to the hat.Well, good day to you, Lieutenant, and thanks.
I must be off."
"Nay, nay!" cried the Lieutenant."Wait a moment.`There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood --' How does that line go? I was educated in England and speak English as I do my mother tongue--""Won't you let me go?" asked Maurice."Look at my clothes.""You ought to be thankful that they are dry this time.Come;you'll have a good story to carry back to Vienna.Princesses do not eat people.""No," said Maurice.
"Ye gods, listen to that! One would think by the tone of your voice that you wished they did!"There was no resisting this good humor; and Maurice wanted only an excuse to wait.He sat down on the steps, sucked the knuckles of his hand, and contemplated the grin on the cuirassier's face.
"I like you," said the Lieutenant; "I like your sangfroid.The palace is a devil of a dull place, and a new face is a positive relief.I suppose you know that affairs here are bad; no honesty anywhere.Everybody has his hands tied.The students know this, and do as they please.Think of two hundred gendarmes in the city, and an affair like this takes place without one of them turning up!
"I tell you frankly that it is all I can do to withhold the edge of my saber when I meet those students.Last night they held a noisy flambeau procession around the Hohenstaufenplatz, knowing full well that the king had had another stroke and quiet was necessary.They would have waked the dead.I have an idea that Iforgot to use the flat of my sword; at least, the hospital report confirms my suspicions.Ah, here comes Max.""Her Royal Highness desires to thank Monsieur Carewe, and commands that he be brought to her carriage."Lieutenant von Mitter smiled, and Maurice stood up and brushed himself.The troopers sprang into the saddle and started on a walk, with Maurice bringing up behind on foot.The thought of meeting the princess, together with his recent exertions, created havoc with his nerves.When he arrived at the royal carriage, his usual coolness forsook him.He fumbled with his hat, tongue-tied.He stood in the Presence.
"Monsieur," said the Voice, "I thank you with all my heart for your gallant service.Poor, poor dog!""It was nothing, your Highness; any man would have done the same thing." The red in the wheel-spokes bothered his eyes.
"No, no! you must not belittle it."
"If it had not been for Lieutenant von Mitter--""Whither were you going, Monsieur?" interrupted the Voice.
"Nowhere; that is, I was going toward my hotel.""The Continental?"
"Yes, your Highness."
"Step into the carriage, Monsieur;" the Voice had the ring of command."I will put you down there.It is the least that I can do to show my gratitude.""I--I to ride with your Highness?" he stammered."O, no! I--that is--it would scarcely be--""You are not afraid of me, Monsieur?" with a smile which, though it had a bit of the rogue in it, was rather sad.She moved to the other side of the seat and put the dog on the rug at her feet."Perhaps you are proud? Well, Monsieur, I too am proud; so proud that I promise never to forgive you if you refuse to gratify my wish.""I was not thinking of myself, your Highness, or rather I was.Iam not presentable.Look at me; my hat is out of shape, my clothes dusty, and I dare say that my face needs washing."The Presence replied to this remarkable defense with laughter, laughter in which Maurice detected an undercurrent of bitterness.
