Count Adam von Schwarzenberg had meanwhile opened the door to his little private antechamber, and caused to enter his officiating equery and chamberlain, von Lehndorf, as also his two pages in waiting.

“Lehndorf,” he said, “what think you?  Would it be possible to arrange a small hunting party for to-day?”

“Most gracious sir,” returned the chamberlain joyfully, “the weather seems just made for that.  A clear, bright October day, and the does and stags in the park deserve that a couple of dozen of them should be shot down, for they have grown so bold that they hardly show any longer their wonted fear of man.  Would your excellency believe that yesterday four does, under the guidance of a powerful buck, were pleased to issue forth from the park behind the castle and promenade a little in the worshipful towns of Berlin and Cologne?  Such a screaming as there was of the street boys, who pursued the beasts, such a grunting of hogs, into whose styes the does sprang without respect, and such a running of honorable city women, who were struck with fear of being maltreated by the horned animals, who were nevertheless not their husbands, and such a yelping of noble butcher dogs, which probably took the does for calves gone mad!  I swear, your excellency, it was divine sport.”

“You are a blustering fellow yourself,” laughed the count, “and ’Who loves to dance, ne’er lacks the chance.’  If you are thus minded, we shall have a little hunt to-day, and take it upon yourself to invite for us a few worthy and suitable gentlemen who have fine horses and dogs.”

“And will not your grace to-day, in this beautiful weather, grant these gentlemen the pleasure of seeing the two new greyhounds run?  They have been here eight days already, and might as well display a little of their skill for the heavy sum of money they have cost.”

“Yes, that is true—­a heavy sum of money they cost indeed,” said the count.  “My son writes me that he paid eight thousand dollars for these two greyhounds.” [9]

“But they are worth it, your excellency,” cried the chamberlain, quite enthusiastically.  “They are two wonderful animals, who have not their match in the wide world.  I am quite in love with them, and if I had wife or ladylove, would gladly give her for these two greyhounds.”

“Yes, yes, many an one would relish making payments in this fashion,” laughed the count.  “It is easier to give a wife away than eight thousand dollars, and again she is easier to obtain than such a superior greyhound.  Hurry now, Lehndorf, and arrange the hunt for me.  Let the servants put on their new red hunting suits and my huntsman also his new livery, that the curious Berlin people may have something to gape at.  Away with you, Lehndorf!  You, pages, take the baskets, now I am off for the audience hall.”