We were soon out on the darksome, unguarded road, and after that I steered chiefly by the lights of the palace behind me, Dessauer saying no word, but riding like a man-at-arms close behind me.

We had reached the crown of the green hill over whose slopes the path to the Wolf markwinds—­the path by which, doubtless, Helene had travelled the night of the duel.

As I came to the summit, mounting the steepest part slowly, I was aware of a figure dark against the sky, no more apparent than a blacker patch of night where all was dark.  It was in shape as of a horseman sitting his steed on the crest of the hill.

Instantly I drew my pistol, in which I had become expert.

“Your name and business?” cried I to the shape on the hill-side.  For, indeed, none had any right to be abroad so near the city of Plassenburg, armed cap-a-pie, at that time of the night.  And for a moment the thought flashed upon me that the tales we had heard might after all be true, and the armies of the Wolfmark nearer than we dreamed of.

“Hugo—­Von Dessauer!” quoth right jovially to my ear a voice well known and ever dear to me, the voice of my master, the Prince Karl.

“The Prince!” cried I.  “My lord, what do you here?  This is stark madness—­you, who should be within the walls of the palace, with the guards watching three deep about you.  What would come to the State of Plassenburg if it wanted you?”

“Oh,” said he, lightly, falling in beside us in the most natural fashion, “you and Von Dessauer in dual control would be a singular improvement on the present head of the State.  You, Hugo, would keep the soldiers to their work, and Von Dessauer could look nobly after the treasury.”

“But who would command us and be a gracious and beloved master to us?” said I.  “My Prince, we must instantly return and put you in safety!”

“Indeed, that will you not.  By God’s truth, if I am not to come all the way to the city of Thorn with you, I will at least convoy you to the edges of the Mark.  It is so dull, dragging out month by month at ease within the castle, and not nearly so much fun as it used to be when I was a poor captain of a free company under the old Prince.  Young rattling blades like Dessauer and yourself make no allowance for the distractions of an aged and gouty Prince.”

Within myself I felt some amusement stir.  It was almost exactly what the Princess, his wife, had alleged as a reason for her wanderings.  I could not help marvelling why these two had not long ere this found out their great affinity to each other.  But now I see that this very likeness of nature was the first cause of their lack of agreement.  Like may, indeed, draw to like, as the saw hath it.  But in the things of love like and like agree not well together.  Fair desires dark, stout and stark desire slender, slow desires quick, severe desires gay (though this often secretly).  And so the world goes on, and in another generation, sprung from these desirings, once more dark desireth fair and fair dark.