"I thought it best to let you go without seeing the duke. The meeting
between you two might be painful."
"That also is thoughtful of your excellency," said the king. "I have no
desire to see or speak to his highness."
"There is, however, one favor I should like to ask," said the prince.
"Can I grant it?"
"Easily. I wish to leave a sum of money in trust, to be paid to one
Gretchen Schwarz, who lives in the Krumerweg. She is ambitious to become
a singer. Let nothing stand between her and her desires."
"Granted."
The heart of the king, at the sound of that dear name, suddenly
expanded and stifled him. The stiffness went out of his shoulders.
"Ah, this little world of ours, the mistakes and futile schemes we make
upon it!" The chancellor dallied with his quill pen. "It was a cynical
move of fate that your majesty should see the goose-girl first."
"Enough!" cried the king vehemently. "Let us have no more retrospection,
if you please. Moreover, I shall be obliged to you if you will summon at
once the carriage which is to take us to the frontier. The situation has
been amicably and satisfactorily explained. I see no reason why we
should be detained any longer."
"Nor I," added Prince Ludwig. "I am rather weary of these tatters.
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