"Was this the fellow, Prince," he asked, "who caused you all the
trouble and anxiety?"
I felt uneasy. My experience with Kings was not large.
"No, Your Majesty," answered the Prince. "The gentleman to whom you
refer has departed the scene." The Prince caught the fire in my eye,
and laughed softly.
"Ah," said the King, carelessly. "It is a strange story. Proceed,"
with a nod to the Chancellor.
"What is your name?" the Chancellor asked, directing his glance at the
innkeeper.
The innkeeper gazed at the King for a space. The Prince was watching
him with a mocking smile.
"Hermann Breunner, Your Excellency."
The King stood still. He had forgotten the man, but not the name.
"Hermann Breunner," he mused.
"Yes, Your Majesty," said the innkeeper.
"The keeper of the feudal inn," supplemented the Prince.
The glance the innkeeper shot him was swift. The Prince suddenly
busied himself with the papers.
"Are you aware," went on the Chancellor, who had not touched the
undercurrent, "that you are guilty of a grave crime?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"Which is punishable by long imprisonment?"
The innkeeper bent his head.
"What have you to say in your defense?"
"Nothing," tranquilly meeting the frowning eyes of the King.
"What was your object in defrauding the Princess--" the Chancellor
opened one of the documents which lay before him--"the Princess
Elizabeth of her rights?"
"I desired the Princess Hildegarde to possess all," was the answer. It
was also a challenge to the Prince to refute the answer if he dared.
"I acknowledge that I have committed a crime. I submit to His
Majesty's will," bowing reverentially.
The King was stroking his chin, a sign of deep meditation in him.
"Let Their Highnesses be brought in," he said at last.
The Chancellor rose and passed into the anteroom. Shortly he returned,
followed by Gretchen. I could see by the expression in her face that
she was mystified by the proceeding.
"Her Highness the Princess Elizabeth is just leaving the carriage,"
announced the Chancellor, retiring again.
Gretchen looked first at the King, then at the Prince. As she saw the
innkeeper, a wave of astonishment rippled over her face.
"Be seated, Your Highness," said the King, kindly.
She knew that I was in the room, but her eyes never left the King.
The Prince was plucking at his imperial. The innkeeper's eyes were
riveted on the door. He was waiting for the appearance of her whom he
had wronged. Presently Phyllis came in. Her cheeks were red, and her
eyes sparkled with excitement. Wentworth nodded reassuringly. The
innkeeper was like one stricken dumb. He stared at Phyllis till I
thought his eyes would start from their sockets.