“Your excellency will not understand me,” said Gabriel, while drops of agony trickled from his cold brow.

“No,” proudly retorted the count, “it is for you to understand me, Sir Court Painter Gabriel Nietzel.  Were you not sent to The Hague to complete your studies there?  Why have you returned home so soon?”

“Because I was homesick, most gracious sir—­because I longed inexpressibly after my child, my wife!”

The painter ventured to lift his eyes with earnest anxiety and entreaty to the face of the count, but Schwarzenberg’s glance remained cold.

“Ah, you have a wife?” he asked, with indifference.  “You left her behind and went alone to The Hague?”

“Yes, I went there quite alone, because I had a great and important work to accomplish there; but before I had even stretched my canvas and sketched the outlines, an unexpected hindrance interposed which annihilated all my plans.”

“What sort of hindrance?” asked the count carelessly, while he played with the heavy golden chain about his neck, to which was attached the portrait of the Elector set in brilliants.  “What sort of hindrance?”

“The Electoral Prince, to whom the Electress had recommended me, and who received me into the number of his attendants, suddenly and unexpectedly determined to take his departure from The Hague, and straightway carried his resolution into effect.  He himself, together with Baron von Marwitz, Baron Leuchtmar von Kalkhun, secretary Mueller, and his chamberlain repaired forthwith to Amsterdam, in order to take ship there.  He, however, ordered his majordomo and myself to break up his household, to pack up his books and paintings, and to journey with them by land to Berlin.  I ventured to protest against this, and even preferred the request to be permitted to accompany the Electoral Prince upon his sea voyage; this, however, Baron Leuchtmar refused, and nobody was allowed to speak with the Electoral Prince himself.  Up to the time of his departure he remained shut up in his chamber, and only left it to get into the carriage which conveyed him to Amsterdam.  There, as was known, lay a passenger vessel ready to sail for Hamburg, and in this the Electoral Prince took passage.”

“And you did not see the Electoral Prince at all before he set out?”

“Oh, your excellency, I had ranged myself along with all his other household officers at the side of his traveling carriage, and the Prince very condescendingly held out his hand to me, yes, he even tried to smile.  ‘Gabriel Nietzel,’ he said, ’make all speed to reach Berlin right soon.  I shall desire my mother to allow you to enter my special service, and then you shall paint for me many a pretty picture.  Until then, farewell!’ He once more nodded kindly to me, and jumped into the carriage.”

“That is the only time that you have spoken at all to the Electoral Prince?”