"Your Majesty is right," said I, desperately. "I am confused. I know
not what to say."
"What would you do in my place?" asked the King of the Chancellor.
"I should say in an ominous voice, 'Young man, you may go; but if you
ever enter our presence again without either one or the other of the
Hohenphalian Princesses as your wife, we shall confiscate your property
and put you in a dungeon for the remainder of your natural days.' I
put in the confiscation clause as a matter of form. Have you any
property?"
"What I have," I answered, my confidence returning, "I can put in my
pockets."
"Good," said the King. "What the Chancellor says is but just. See to
it that his directions are followed."
"Now, my King," concluded the Chancellor, "put a medal on him and let
him go."
"In time," replied the King. "You may go, Herr Winthrop."
"Go and scribble no more," added the Chancellor.
I could hear them laughing as I made my escape from the room. It could
not be expected of me to join them. And Gretchen was as far away as
ever. Phyllis love me? It was absurd. Gretchen had played me the
fool. She had been laughing at me all the time. Yet, she had begged
my life of the Prince, and on her knees. Or, was it a lie of his? Oh,
it seemed to me that my brain would never become clear again.
In the afternoon at four I was ushered into the boudoir of Her Highness
the Princess Elizabeth. It was Phyllis no longer; Phyllis had passed;
and I became conscious of a vague regret.
"I am glad," she said, "that you were able to come. I wanted to speak
to you about--about my sister."
"Your Highness--"
She laughed. "Our interview shall end at once if you call me by that
title. Sir," with a gaiety which struck me as unnatural, "you are
witnessing the passing of Phyllis. It will not be long before she
shall pass away and never more return, and the name shall fade till it
becomes naught but a dear memory. Phyllis has left the green pastures
for the city, and Corydon followeth not."
"Phyllis," said I, "you are cutting me to the heart."
"But to the matter at hand," she said quickly. "There is a
misunderstanding between you and my sister Hildegarde. She sent me
this letter. Read it."