In his attitude toward the girl the duke stood alone. Behind his back
his ministers wore out their shoes in waiting on the caprices of the
girl, while the grand duchess, half-blind and half-deaf, openly
worshiped her wilful but wholly adorable niece, and abetted her in all
her escapades. So far as the populace was concerned, she was the
daughter of the favorite son, dead these eighteen years, and that was
enough for them. Whatever she did was right and proper. But the
hard-headed duke had the power to say what should be what, and he
willed it that the Princess Hildegarde should marry his old comrade in
arms, the Prince of Doppelkinn.