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Updated: May 4, 2025
You call it love to thwart her to her face, and bandy insults? Love!" "Gotthold, you are unjust. I was then fighting for my country," said the Prince. "Ay, and there's the worst of all," returned the Doctor. "You could not even see that you were wrong; that, being where they were, retreat was ruin." "Why, you supported me!" cried Otto. "I did. I was a fool like you," replied Gotthold.
To this poor waif of a soldier of fortune we may seem respectable gentlemen; but to ourselves, what are we unless a pasteboard portico and a deliquium of deadly weaknesses within? 'I? yes, said Otto; 'but you, Gotthold you, with your interminable industry, your keen mind, your books serving mankind, scorning pleasures and temptations! You do not know how I envy you.
Early to bed and early to rise, his life was devoted to two things: erudition and Rhine wine. An ancient friendship existed latent between him and Otto; they rarely met, but when they did it was to take up at once the thread of their suspended intimacy. Gotthold, the virgin priest of knowledge, had envied his cousin, for half a day, when he was married; he had never envied him his throne.
And as the Prince rapped out the words in tones of unusual vigour, a little, stout, old gentleman, opening a door behind Gotthold, received them fairly in the face.
The course that I have been following all these years, to come at last to this. O, ill-advised! if that were all! See now, there is no sense in beating about the bush between two men: you know what scandal says of her?" Gotthold, with pursed lips, silently nodded. "Well, come, you are not very cheering as to my conduct as the Prince; have I even done my duty as a husband?" Otto asked.
"If you come to think of it," said Otto, "I am not a popular sovereign." And with a look he changed his statement to a question. "Popular? Well, there I would distinguish," answered Gotthold, leaning back and joining the tips of his fingers.
Enlighten me on that." "On that?" cried the old gentleman. "O, that is a trifle; a matter, your Highness, of police; a detail of a purely administrative order. These are simply a selection of the papers seized upon the English traveller." "Seized?" echoed Otto. "In what sense? Explain yourself." "Sir John Crabtree," interposed Gotthold, looking up, "was arrested yesterday evening."
'Madame and gentlemen, he said, at last, 'what I hold in my hand is simply a declaration of war. 'Simply, said Seraphina, flashing defiance. 'The sovereign of this country is under the same roof with us, continued Gotthold, 'and I insist he shall be summoned. It is needless to adduce my reasons; you are all ashamed at heart of this projected treachery. The council waved like a sea.
'It consists neither with your dignity nor mine that you should babble excuses and stumble possibly upon untruths. Collect your thoughts; and then categorically inform me of all you have been charged to hide. Gotthold, stooping very low over his desk, appeared to have resumed his labours; but his shoulders heaved with subterranean merriment.
Toast followed toast; glass after glass was bowed across and emptied by the trio; and presently there began to fall upon them a luxurious spell, under the influence of which little but the sound of quiet and confidential laughter interrupted the long intervals of meditative silence. 'Otto, said Gotthold, after one of these seasons of quiet, 'I do not ask you to forgive me.
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