Princess Sophie and her sister, together with some of the older ladies, had driven to Bucheneck in carriages, and the Princess Sophie’s first anxiety had been to get hold of her nephew.  But so far Prince Egon had managed to avoid her.  He had been everywhere but in the neighborhood of his deceived aunt, until at last, losing all patience, she ordered a gentleman of the Court to bring Prince Adelsberg to her at once.  This order was imperative, and Egon did not dare disobey it, but he took the precaution of having his “lightning rod” with him to get the first shock.  Hartmut was by his side when he presented himself before the princess.

“Well, Egon, it’s a great privilege to see your face at all to-day,” were the first words.  “You are in demand on all sides, it seems.”

“But I am always at the service of my beloved aunt,” Egon declared.  His amiability was of no use to him on this occasion, however; the princess measured him with anything but a conciliatory glance.

“Whenever your knightly services are not needed in the interest of Frau von Wallmoden.  You will have the opportunity of exhibiting a glittering example of chivalry and courage, when her husband comes back.  You will learn to know and appreciate him better then.”

“I appreciate him very highly now, as a man, as a diplomat and as ’his excellency.’  Your grace must surely believe that.”

“I believe you absolutely, Egon.  Your love of truth is one of the verities upon which I pin my faith,” said the lady, with biting irony.  “For that very reason I was pleased to have the opportunity of a little talk with old Stadinger the other day.  He’s not so rusty after all, for his years.”

“Poor fellow, he suffers greatly from weakness of memory,” the prince hastened to assure her.  “Stadinger forgets nearly everything—­don’t you know, Hartmut?  What he declares most earnestly one day, is entirely forgotten on the next.”

“I found, on the contrary, that his memory was very fresh; above all, this faithful old servant of your house is trustworthy, circumspect—­”

“And rude,” interrupted Egon, sighing.  “You can have no idea of the incivility in which old Peter Stadinger’s whole nature is steeped.  He tyrannizes most terribly over Herr Rojanow and myself.  I have thought seriously of putting him out of the way.”

It is hardly necessary to say he had not thought of anything of the kind.

Princess Sophie, who was an autocrat, and who dealt most severely with her own servants, was inclined to be very lenient in this instance.

“You should not think of harming so faithful a creature,” she answered.  “A man who has served three generations of your race can be forgiven for slight eccentricities, especially when one thinks of the pleasant life which the two young masters of Rodeck lead him, for we all know they do not court company, but prefer loneliness.”

“Ah, yes, loneliness,” said Egon with feeling.  “It is a great change after our eventful life in the East, and we enjoy it in full measure.  I occupy myself principally—­”