I saw nothing that moved until a boat shot out of the bight of sultry lake-water, lying close below the dark promontory where I had drawn rein.  The rower was old Schwartz Warhead.  How my gorge rose at the impartial brute!  He was rowing the princess and a young man in uniform across the lake.

That they should cross from unsheltered paths to close covert was reasonable conduct at a time when the vertical rays of the sun were fiery arrow-heads.  As soon as they were swallowed in the gloom I sprang in my saddle with torture, transfixed by one of the coarsest shafts of hideous jealousy.  Off I flew, tearing through dry underwood, and round the bend of the lake, determined to confront her, wave the man aside, and have my last word with the false woman.  Of the real Ottilia I had lost conception.  Blood was inflamed, brain bare of vision:  ’He takes her hand, she jumps from the boat; he keeps her hand, she feigns to withdraw it, all woman to him in her eyes:  they pass out of sight.’  A groan burst from me.  I strained my crazy imagination to catch a view of them under cover of the wood and torture myself trebly, but it was now blank, shut fast.  Sitting bolt upright, panting on horseback in the yellow green of one of the open woodways, I saw the young officer raise a branch of chestnut and come out.  He walked moodily up to within a yard of my horse, looked up at me, and with an angry stare that grew to be one of astonishment, said, ’Ah?  I think I have had the pleasure—­somewhere? in Wurtemberg, if I recollect.’

It was Prince Otto.  I dismounted.  He stood alone.  The spontaneous question on my lips would have been ‘Where is she?’ but I was unable to speak a word.

‘English?’ he said, patting the horse’s neck.

’Yes—­the horse? an English hunter.  How are you, Prince Otto?  Do you like the look of him?’

’Immensely.  You know we have a passion for English thoroughbreds.  Pardon me, you look as if you had been close on a sunstroke.  Do you generally take rides in this weather?’

’I was out by chance.  If you like him, pray take him; take him.  Mount him and try him.  He is yours if you care to have him; if he doesn’t suit you send him up to Count Fretzel’s.  I’ve had riding enough in the light.’

‘Perhaps you have,’ said he, and hesitated.  ’It’s difficult to resist the offer of such a horse.  If you want to dispose of him, mention it when we meet again.  Shall I try him?  I have a slight inclination to go as hard as you have been going, but he shall have good grooming in the prince’s stables, and that ’s less than half as near again as Count Pretzel’s place; and a horse like this ought not to be out in this weather, if you will permit me the remark.’

’No:  I’m ashamed of bringing him out, and shan’t look on him with satisfaction,’ said I.  ’Take him and try him, and then take him from me, if you don’t mind.’

‘Do you know, I would advise your lying down in the shade awhile?’ he observed solicitously.  ’I have seen men on the march in Hungary and Italy.  An hour’s rest under cover would have saved them.’