“He will be a good politician, too,” said Ludwig, with a smile of approval at Carmichael.  “No, boy, there will be no war.  And yet I was prepared for it; nor was I wrong in doing so.  Already, but for Herbeck, there would be plenty of fighting in the passes. Ach! Could you but see the princess!”

“I have seen her,” replied the king.  “Heaven would have been kinder had I seen her months ago.”

“Say to his serene highness, then, that you are willing to marry her.”

“I’m afraid you do not understand, uncle,” the king replied sadly.  “I have the supreme happiness to love and to be loved.  Of that nothing can rob me.  And for some time to come, uncle mine, I shall treasure that happiness.”

“And the little Gretchen?”

“Yes, yes!  I have been a scoundrel.”  And the king’s eyes grew moist.  “You are happy, Mr. Carmichael; you have no crown to weigh against your love.”

“Has he not?” mocked Ludwig.

“That, uncle, is neither kind nor gallant.”

And from that moment Carmichael’s heart warmed toward the young man, whose sorrow was greater than his own.  For the king was giving up the woman who loved him, while Carmichael was only giving up the woman he loved, which is a distinction.

“I ask Mr. Carmichael’s pardon,” said Prince Ludwig frankly.  “But my temper has been sadly tried.  Will you grant me a favor?”

“If it is in my power,” said Carmichael.

“Go at once to our embassy and notify them what has taken place.”

“I will do that at once.  If only I could find some way for you to escape!”

“There is none,” said the king.  “Come, uncle; let us see what is going on down-stairs.”

Carmichael followed them down.

“There they are, men!” cried the sub-chief.  “You are under arrest!”

“I am the king of Jugendheit,” calmly announced Frederick Leopold.  “Will you subject me to public arrest?”

“And I,” said the uncle, “am Ludwig, prince regent.  Let us go to prison as quickly as possible, blockheads!”

The sub-chief laughed uproariously, and even the disciplined soldiers smiled.  The king of Jugendheit and the prince regent!  This was a good joke, indeed!

“Your majesty and your royal highness,” said the sub-chief, his eyes twinkling, “will do me, a poor sub-chief of the police, the honor of accompanying me to the Stein-schloss.”

“Lead on, lead on!” cried Ludwig.  “But wait!  I forgot.  There can be no harm in asking why we are arrested.”

“You are accused of being military spies from Jugendheit.  That is sufficient for the present.”

“Frederick, they do not believe us.  So much the better!” Ludwig pursed his lips into a whistle.

“May I retain this bundle?” inquired the king.

“Yes.  I know what is in it.  Forward, march!”

The soldiers formed into a square, and in the center the prisoners were placed.  Carmichael made as though to protest, but Prince Ludwig signed for him to be silent.