“My heavens, noble sir!” cried Schwarzenberg, with an expression of painful horror, “this is more than a mere passing indisposition.  You are really sick—­you are suffering!”

“Not so, count.  I am not suffering at all, and it is only a trifling ailment.  My father is quite right—­the strong wine has mounted to my head.  I am not used to drinking and feasting, that is all.  To-morrow will—­Count, I beg you to lead me to my carriage.  It is dark before my eyes!”

And the Prince sank back groaning and half unconscious.  The count beckoned the princely Chamberlain von Goetz to approach, and the two gentlemen, aided by a few lackeys, bore the Prince carefully out to the carriage.  Then Frederick William opened his eyes, his wandering glance strayed around, and his lips stammered softly:  “Where is Gabriel Nietzel?  Is he with me?”

But Gabriel Nietzel was nowhere to be seen; only the Chamberlain von Goetz was there, and he got into the carriage, which bore the deadly sick Prince at full gallop to the palace.

Count Schwarzenberg looked after the retreating vehicle with earnest, thoughtful face, then turned to re-enter the palace.  On the threshold stood Gabriel Nietzel, and the eyes of the two men met in one glance of awe and horror.

“Your grace sees I have kept my word,” murmured Gabriel Nietzel.

“Away!” commanded the count imperiously.  “If you are not out of Berlin in one hour I shall have you arrested by the police, and accuse you as the murderer of the Electoral Prince, for you alone waited upon him!  Be off!”

But Gabriel Nietzel stirred not from the threshold, and the look which he fixed upon the count was not humble and reverential, but threatening.  “Sir,” asked he shortly and harshly—­“sir, where are Rebecca and my child?”

“At your lodgings, you fool!  Hurry, I tell you!” And with ungentle hand the count thrust the painter from the door, and returned to the banqueting hall to inform the Elector and his spouse with smiling, almost mocking gesture, that the young gentleman himself had said that the strong wine had slightly affected his head, and produced a temporary indisposition.

The Elector laughed aloud, and the anxious brow of the Electress cleared up again.  The entertainment quietly proceeded.

Why should they be uneasy about the young gentleman, who had no other sufferings than those resulting from unwonted indulgence in strong drink?

The Electoral Prince had meanwhile arrived with his chamberlain at the castle.  No one came to meet them.  All the servants had dispersed hither and thither, in pursuit of their own business or enjoyments.  They knew, indeed, that Count Schwarzenberg’s feast would be continued to a late hour of the night, and who could imagine that the Electoral Prince would return home in so unexpected a manner?  The castle was deserted, and the chamberlain must needs summon to his aid the sentinel who was pacing up and down before the castle, in order to lift the Prince from his carriage and into the entrance hall.  Now he called aloud for help, since the Prince had become perfectly helpless, and lay senseless upon the stone bench in the hall.