Carmichael gave no sign that he understood; but there was no mistaking the prince regent's inference, however. The recipient of this compliment stubbornly refused to give the prince the satisfaction of seeing how neatly the barb had gone home.
"But, Mr. Carmichael, what is your interest in Gretchen?"
Carmichael trembled with joy. Here was an opening for a double shot. "My interest in her is better than yours, for I have not asked her to become a king's mistress."
His royal highness bit his lip.
"Uncle!" cried the king, horrified at this revelation.
"Mr. Carmichael evidently has applied his ear to some keyhole."
"No, thank you! The window was open. My clerk heard you plainly."
"Uncle, is this damnable thing true?"
"Yes. What would you? You were determined to make a fool of yourself. But rest easy. She is ignorant where this offer came from, and, moreover, she spurned it, as Mr. Carmichael's clerk will affirm. Oh, Gretchen is a fine little woman, and I would to God she was of your station!" And the mask fell from the regent's face, leaving it bitter and careworn. "Our presence is known in Dreiberg; it has been known for three days at least. And in coming up here I had another errand. Oh, I haven't forgotten it. In the street there are at least ten soldiers under the sub-chief of the police; rather a curious conjunction."
The king turned white. So it had come at last!
Carmichael ran to the rear window. He shrugged. "There's half a dozen in the garden, too."
"Is there any way to the roofs?"
"None that would serve you."
"Mr. Carmichael," said the king, offering his hand, his handsome face kindly and without rancor, "I should be an ungrateful wretch if I did not ask your full pardon. I am indebted to you twice for my life, little as it amounts to. And in my kingdom you will always be welcome. Will you accept my hand, as one man to another?"
"With happiness, your Majesty. And I ask that you pardon my own hasty words."
"Thank you."
"He is only young," sighed Ludwig.
The king emptied the drawer, put the contents in his pack, tied the strings, and put it under his arm.
"What are you going to do?" asked the uncle, vaguely perturbed.
"I am going down to the soldiers. I am no longer a vintner, I am a king!" And he said this in a manner truly royal.
"Gott!" burst from the prince regent. "This boy has marrow in his bones, after all!"
"As you will find, dear uncle, the day after the coronation. You will, of course, go down to them with me?"