“So you want to see the hunt, too, do you?” he asked.  “Of course, if there’s anything to see, Peter Stadinger must see it.  My valet has asked permission also.  For that matter I believe all the inhabitants of the forest have turned out to-day with their whole families to go to the hunting grounds.”

“Yes, your highness, they don’t often have an opportunity to see such a sight,” replied Stadinger.  “The great Court hunts seldom take place in our woods.  There’s hunting enough around here to be sure, but then you never ask any ladies to Rodeck, and the ladies—­”

“Are a great bore,” interrupted the prince.  “That’s my opinion; but what are you prating about?  You are generally down on the women, and unless they are over eighty don’t want to see one of them around the place.  Are you going back to your young and giddy days?”

“I meant the court ladies, your highness,” said Stadinger impressively.

“‘The court ladies,’ can honor me with their company for a walk, but I’ll never invite any of them to any hunt of mine, for I’m still a young bachelor.”

“And why is it that your highness is still a bachelor?” responded the old servant reprovingly.

“Man alive, I do believe you are trying to get me married, like my old—­like all the rest of the world.  Don’t waste any thought or time on me, for I won’t marry.”

“Your highness is wrong,” remonstrated old Stadinger, who always gave his master the title once at least in each sentence, for he thought if he did have to read the prince a lecture every now and then, he must show him some respect while doing it, “and it is unchristian, too, for the marriage relation is a holy state in which it is well to live; your father, blessed be his memory, married—­and so did I.”

“Of course, and so did you.  Yes, you are the grandfather of that lovely girl, Zena, whom you sent away in such shameless haste.  By the way, when is Zena coming back?”

The steward appeared not to hear the question, but returned obstinately to his theme.

“Her highness, the duchess, and princess Sophie, are very anxious to see you married.  Your highness should think it well over.”

“Well, that’s enough of your fatherly advice for one day.  And it’s no business of princess Sophie.  By the way, as you are going to Bucheneck, where the hunt meets to-day, it’s very possible that you will be seen and spoken to by some of the court.”

“Very possible, your highness,” agreed the steward, complacently.  “Her grace often honors me with a little conversation, for she recognizes me as the oldest servant of a princely house.”

“Well, if the princess should inquire by chance about the snakes and beasts of prey which I brought with me from my travels, you can tell her that I’m going to have them sent to one of my other castles.”

“That is not at all necessary, your highness,” replied the steward.  “Your gracious aunt has obtained information about everything.”