Royal Highness

re of its prey, in this case disdained any mask or gloss, and came on the scene as its very self, as dissolution by and for itself. What actually happened was a decomposition of the blood, caused

endants, as well as to the surgeons attending him, that he was "dead sick of the whole thing"-meaning, of course, his princely existence, his exalted life in the glare of publici

ndorf in all haste from the fair land of the South to the capital. Besides the two prince-sons, the Grand Duchess Dorothea, the Princesses Catherine and Ditlinde, Prince Lambert without his lovely wife-the surgeons in attendance and Prahl the valet-de-chambre waited at the bedside, while the Court officials and Ministers on duty were

e lucid moments was not at all clear; but he carried out the act with scrupulous care and made a ceremony of it. He had himself propped up, made a few alterations, shading his eyes with his wax-coloured hands, in the chance disposition of those present, ordered his sons to place themselves on both

satin, and brocade, mentioned Prince Klaus Heinrich, used a technical expression in medicine, and said something about an Order, the Albrecht Cross of the Third Class with Crown. Between whiles one caught quite ordinary remarks, which apparently referred to the dying man's princely calling, and sounded like "extraordinary obligation" and "comfortable majority"; then

.e.,

uation, and began at once to busy himself in a practical, gentle way about his exalted patient, whereat the latter expressed his satisfaction in no uncertain fashion. Thus it was that it fell to Doctor Sammet to administer the last injections to the Grand Duke, with his supporting hand to ease the final spasms, and to be, more than any of the other doctors, his h

ast time, carried him along, and made his wax-like shell just once more the focus and object of theatrical rites.... Herr von Bühl zu Bühl showed his usual energy in organizing the funeral, which was attended by many princely guests. The gloomy ceremonies, the different exposures and identifications, corpse-parade

heavy with rain from the middle of their poles. Although it was early morning, the gas-lamps were burning in the streets along which the funeral was to pass. Johann Albrecht's bust was displayed amongst mourning decorations in the shop-windows, and postcards with the portrait of the deceased ruler, which were everywhere for sale, were in great demand. Behind the rows of troops, the gymnastic clubs, and veteran associations which kept the roa

is busby, the long boots under his gaudy, ample Hussar's pelisse, with the crape band, did not become him. He walked as if embarrassed by the eyes of the crowd, and his shoulder-blades, naturally rather crooked, were twisted in an a

Throne, which Herr von Knobelsdorff had drawn up. The economic condition of the country was touched upon in it with earnestness and delicacy, while appreciative mention was made of the unanimity which despite all troubles existed between the princes and the country-at which place a prominent functionary, who was apparently discontented about promotion

he city and the acclamation in the Town Hall were omitted altogether, as the Grand Duke felt too tired for them. Having been a captain hitherto, he was promoted on the occasion of his accession at once to the colonelcy à la suite of his Hussar regim

hock public opinion. He never appeared in the large box at the Court Theatre. He never took part in the park parade. When in residence at the Old Schloss, he had himself driven in a closed carr

ting. For the lower classes felt that with a prince like this there could be no question of cheering him and thereby cheering themselves at the same time. They looked at him, and did not recognize themselves in him; his refined superiority made it clear that they were of different clay from his. And th

e too knew that; and the consciousness of his Highness, together with that of his want of popular graciousness, were quite enough to account for his shyness and haughtiness. He began already to delegate as far as possible his duties to Prince Klaus Heinrich. He sent him to open the new spring at Immenstadt and to the historical town-pageant

age" as a residence, that Empire Schloss on the fringe of the northern suburbs, which, reposeful and charming, but long uninhabited and neglected, in the middle of its overgrown park next the Town Gardens, looked down on its little mud-thick pond. Some time ago,

daily needs; he borrowed the game-keeper when necessary for ceremonial shoots, from the Grand Duke's Court. One coachman and a couple of grooms in red waistcoats looked after the carriages and horses, which consisted of one pony-cart, one

hundred pounds. For the sum of four thousand pounds, which had been the original demand, had never had any prospect of recommending itself to the Landtag, and so a wise and magnanimous act of self-denial had been credited to Klaus Heinrich, which

usiasm, and cheers whenever she had shown herself to the longing gaze of the toil-worn masses, she too had had to pay her tribute to time. Dorothea had aged, her calm perfection, the admiration and joy of everybody, had during recent years withered so fast and steadily that the woman in her had been unable to keep pace with the transformation. Nothing, n

rt never beat the faster for anything or anyone, she was now disconsolate and lost, could not accommodate herself to the change and rebelled against it. Surgeon-General Eschrich said something about mental disturbance resulting from an

ate Ball, the Dinner Party, and the Great Court, as the kind of twilight feeling in the Marble Hall had been enough by itself to call forth many cutting remarks. She spent whole days before her looking-glasses, and it was noticed that she fo

ted her at the height of her beauty.... At the same time a diseased misanthropy began to take possession of her, and both Court and people were distressed to

all her duties as a sovereign. She chose as dower-house Schloss Segenhaus, a monastic-looking old hunting-seat, which lay in a solemn park about one and a half hour's drive from the capital, and had been decorated by some pious old sportsman with reli

Prince Philipp zu Ried-Hohenried, a no longer young, but well-preserved, cultured little man of advanced views, who paid her flattering attentions for s

, and all the critics could say was that the marriage could not be called a mésalliance in so many words. It was a fact that Ditlinde, in giving her hand to the Prince-which she did of her own free will, and quite uninfluenced b

him busy and contented, and at the same time (a matter of necessity) would increase his income. So he launched out into various enterprises, started farms, a brewery, a sugar factory, several saw-mills on his property, and began to exploit his extensive peat deposits in a methodical way

t-caps and neckerchiefs, which however by hallowed tradition formed part of her trousseau-she by this marriage acquired a measure of riches and comfort such as she had never been accustomed to at home: and no sacrifice of her affections was necessary to pay for them. She took the step into private life

summer on the princely estates, the winter in the capital in the stately palace in the Albrechtstrasse, which Philipp zu Ried had inherited; and it was he

vening edition the news that this afternoon his Royal Highness the Grand Duke and his Grand Ducal Highness Prince Klaus Heinrich had been to tea with her Grand Ducal H

came slowly up the broad drive of the Schloss, at a quarter to five, from the stables, which with their asphalt yard lay in the right wing of the home farm. The home farm, yellow-painted, old-fashioned buildings

he Schloss and the very unkempt park behind, which was divided by hedges and fences from the rubbish-encumbered waste ground at the edge of the town suburbs. So the cart came up the drive between the pond and t

t coat whose arms were too short, ran in front of him down the steps and with his red barber's hands packed his master's folded grey over-coat into the cart. Then, while the coachman, his ha

miling with knitted brows and hats lifted, and Klaus Heinrich thanked them by raising hi

ir hoops and tops for a moment to gaze at the carriage with curious eyes. Some cried, Hurrah! and ran for a while by the side of the carriage, with heads turned towards Klaus Heinrich. The carriage might have taken the

einrich was kept busy answering the greetings which met him. Civilians took off their hats and looked from under their eyebrows at him, officers on horse and on foot saluted, policemen front-turned, and Klaus Heinrich in his corner raised his hand to the peak of his cap and thanked on both sides with the well-trained bow and smile which were calculated to confirm the people in their feeling of participation in his splendid person

Ried. It was a building of regular proportions in the pedantic style, with a soaring gable over the main door, festooned ?ils-de-b?uf in the mezzanine story, high French windows in the first story, and an elegant cour d'honneur, which was formed by the two one-storied wings

ofas in pale green silk; the back part of the room was separated from the front by slender pil

above her face with its high Grimmburg cheek-bones. She wore an indoor dress of soft blue-grey stuff with a white lace collar, cut in a point like a breast-plate and fastened at the waist with an old-fashioned oval brooch. B

as, clapping his heels together, he bent over her little, white, rather o

ine, Klaus Heinrich, and I might almost say that I married for flowers, for in the Old Schloss, as you know, there were no flowers.... The Old Schloss and flowers! We should have had to rumm

ose-bush,

its roses smell of decay. And the books say that it will one day smell q

er laughingly, "have something better tha

rich, I can hardly believe it. And yet it will be so, if God plea

f which were upholstered in blue silk. A milk-white china chandelier hung from the white-festooned centre of the ceiling, and the walls were adorned with oil paintings of various sizes, a

nd by the table there hung on the wall a little silk-trimmed block-calendar, under the printed date of which could be seen the pencil note: "5 o'clock: my brothers." Between the sofa and a semicircle of chairs over against the white swing doors into the reception room stood an oval table with a damask cloth and blue-silk border; the flowered tea-service, a jam-pot, long dishes of sweet cakes

boudoir, the room in which she used to entertain quite intimate friends and to make tea with her own hands. K

ing?" he asked with an invo

asked him, Klaus Heinrich, but you know he cannot bind himself. It depends on his health whether he comes. I'm making our tea at once, for Albrecht will drink

Princess's friend and confidant. They had been o

g the filled tea-pot on its stand and examining h

rubbed his left hand, which was c

proper civil wardrobe runs into a terrible lot of money, I believe, and Schulenburg is always going on about how dear

Ditlinde. "Still some way

Ditlinde on a sofa, Klaus Heinri

verything is sunk in various enterprises, Klaus Heinrich? And they are young and in the making, they're all in the development stage, as dear Phili

u do keep it strai

ildren. And dear Philipp.... He sends his greetings, Klaus Heinrich-I forgot, he's very sorry not to be able to be here to-day.... We've only just got back from Hohenried, and there he is already under way, at his

t be very stimulating to be so really splendidly busy. In my park too the meadows have been mowed a second time this year already, and I love seeing the hay built up in steep heaps wi

ent, Klaus Heinrich! The next to the throne! You are called to other things

nt for a while

ot red cheeks, like Philipp from his peat; you always were a bit transparent, and you are still. But you look flou

ion, with her arm lightl

ink of the Old Schloss and life in it as I should have gone on living if it had not been for dear Philipp, I shudder, Klaus Heinrich, and I feel that I could not have borne it and should have become strange and queer like poor mamma. I am a bit delicate naturally, as you know, I should have simply gone under in so much desolation and sadness, and when dear Philipp came, I thought: now's your chance. And when people say that I am a bad Princess, because I have in a way abdicated, and fled here where it is rather warmer and more friendly, and when they say that I lack dignity or consciousness of Highness, or whatever they call it, they are stupid and ignorant, Klaus Heinrich, because I have too much, I have on the contrary too much of it, that's a fact, otherwise the

hat nobody protects our dignity for us if we don't do it ourselves, and then blame and scandal so readily follow.... But which is the right way? You have found it. They have quite recently announced my engagement with Cousin Griseldis in the newspapers. That was a ballon d'essai, as they call it, and they

he swing doors with a quick, firm, and noiseless movement of both arms,

ith a bow. Albrecht adv

pels, and patent-leather boots on his small feet. Since his accession he had grown an imperial. His short fair hair was brushed back on each of his narrow, sunk temples. His gait was an awkward and ye

thin, cold hand which looked so sensitive and which he stretched out from his chest while keeping his forearm close to his body. Then he greeted hi

u how sorry he is to have to be out this afternoon. Sit down, won't you, anywhere you like-here, for instance, opposite me. That c

e. You know, the shorter the road ... And then I have to

, Jettchen Isenschnibbe may look in

O

t as well say

, pray

ht clasped the tall, thick,

Hollerbrunn. Haven't you started fires yet? I have. But then again the smell of the stoves upsets me. All stoves

f year you used to be already in the South, so

t and wear a foreign order. Further, I have had a telegram sent to the annual meeting of the Horticultural Society, in which I assumed the honorary Presidency of the Society and pledged my word to further its efforts in every way-without really knowing what furthering I could do beyond sending the telegram, for the mem

!" said Ditlinde. "I'm convinced that yo

e much concerned about it, because the tax-paying resources of the land, he says, have once more suffered contraction. Besides, there have unfortunately been disasters in more than one of the silver-mines. The gear is at a standstill, says Krippenreuther, it is damaged and will cost a lot of money to repair. I listened to the whole recital with an appropriate expression on my face, and did what I could to express my grief for such a series of misfortunes. Next, I was consulted as to whether the cost of the necessary new buildings for the Treasury and

so bitterly

he spot when there is anything going on, although his half-wittedness keeps him from playing any serious part in anything; he wears a rose in his buttonhole, and carries his hat about on the end of his walking-stick. Twice a day, about the time when a train starts, he goes to the station, taps the wheels, examines the luggage, and fusses ab

barrassed way, and Klaus Heinrich gazed, as he tugged at his little bow

but rather it was edifying, and the whole Schloss was illuminated. And at times I feel ashamed of myself because I have not knocked about the world. But then I tell myself that mine is not a comfortable life, not at all comfortable, although I 'wander on the heights of mankind,' as people express it, or perhaps just because I do, and that I perhaps in my own way know more about the strenuousness of life, its 'tight-lipped countenance,' if you will allow me the expression, than many a one who knows all about the sliding scales or any other single department of life. And the upshot of that is,

ly could care. I say soul, not body. The flesh is weak-there's something in one which expands at applause and contracts at cold silence. But my reason rises superior to all considerations of popularity or unpopularity. If I did succeed in being a true national representative, I know what that would amount to. A misconception of my personality. Besides, a few hand-claps from people one does not know are not worth a shrug of the shoulders. Others-you-may be inspired by the feeling of the people behind you. You must forgive me for being too matter-of-fact to feel any such myst

think so. I don't think

better. I have no penchant for strong expre

ere always using it-my schoolmates, the young sprigs, you know, at the 'Pheas

at mankind ought to see that everyone behaves like a man, and a good man, to his neighbour and does not humiliate him or cause him shame. A man must have a thick skin to be able to carry off all the flummery of Highness without any feeling of shame. I am naturally rather

ntenance when one passes by a fellow like that. The lackeys! If one only

stor

eps one's e

to see everything down in black and white! My head is terribly weak, it can't remember things, and if I weren't tidy and didn't jot everything down, I should be done for. First of all, Albrecht, before I forget it, I wanted to remind you that you must escort Aunt Catherine at the first Court on November 1st-you can't get out of it. I withdraw; the honour fell to me at the last Court Ball, and Aunt Catherine was terribly put out.... D

apping up and down. The smell of the fresh air from outside seemed to cling to her clothes. She was small, very fair, with a pointed nose, and so short-sighted that she could not see the stars. On clear evenings she would

d, "I didn't know; I'm disturbing you, I

lbrecht extended his hand from his chest, keeping his forearm close to his body, her arm was stret

by our Christian names, so none of that Grand Ducal Highness, if you please. We are not in the Old Schloss. Sit down and

tea-table opposite Klaus Heinrich, with her back to the window, drew a glove off and began peering forward, to lay sw

ly only one piece of news, only one-but it's so weighty that it counts for dozens, and it is quite certain, I have it on the best authority

be confessed you never come with empty hands;

ss know, does your Grand Ducal Highness know who's coming, who is coming to the

e, "but do you kno

eaned back and made as if to draw with her fingers on the table-edge,

ister looked doubt

e.... "Think a moment, Jet

s only one, or rather only one whom everybody knows, and he it is whom they are expecting at the

what's bringi

ome big steamer is bringing him over the sea of course, he's on his holidays mak

he ill

eople of his kind are ill,

said Klau

doubt it's a trying existence, and not at all a comfortable one, and must wear the body out quicker than an

e, do

the kidneys, if you will forgive me the horrid expression-a serious, trying ill

rld has he pitched

be properly known and valued throughout the world. But a man like Spoelmann, you can imagine, a man like that is above names and trade-puffs, and follows his own kind. And so he has discovered our waters

l kept

nn and his kind-and I'm not going to commit myself to an opinion, of that you may

his head with his st

ered. "She has doubtless already conside

uminate the Spa Hotel! What a recommendation, what an attraction for strangers! Will your Royal Highness just consider-the man is a curiosity! Your Grand Ducal Highness spoke just now of

aback. "And there's dear Philip

o be journalists, reporters, for two big New York papers. They have preceded the Leviathan, and are telegraphing to their papers preliminary descriptions

nks with eyes downcast

suite in the Spa Hotel," said Je

alone?" ask

precise information about his suite and staff, but it's quite certain

physician-in-ordinary' and the journalists, too, and t

I know," remarked Albrecht

nows-the Steel Trust for instance, the Sugar Trust, the Petroleum Trust, the Coal, Meat, and Tobacco Trusts, and goodness knows how many more, and Samuel N. Spoelmann has a finger in near

uade me, dear Jettchen, that honest work can make a man into a Leviathan and a Cr?sus. I am convi

hope so, for your own an

know the general facts. His father was a German-simply an adventurer who crossed the seas and became gold-digger. And he was lucky and made a little money through gold-finds-or rather quite a decent amount of money-and began to speculate in petroleum and steel and railways, and then in every sort of th

ter, has he, Jettch

've read about her. He himself is a bit of a mixture, for his father married a wife from the South-Creole blood, the daughter of a German

n, she's a creatur

lever, so I've heard; she studies like a ma

doesn't attr

poelmann has a lady-companion, and that lady-companion is a co

lf about Spoelmann. I'm going to let him drink his waters and go, with his countess and his algebraical daughter, and am not g

past Jettchen's head

ds ... it depends, I think, on the standard. We too have one or two rich people in the town here-Soap-boiler Unschlitt must be a millionaire

and Duke sent for his carriage. Prince Klaus Heinrich was going too, so they all got up and said good-bye. But while the brothers were being helped into their coats in the hall, Albrecht said: "I should be obliged, Klaus Heinrich, if you w

No, Albrecht, you mustn't think of it! I'll drive to the Sc

e young princes, the upshot of which was published a few day

and watched from their writing-table. It was an exceptionally unhomely and repellent room, small, with cracked ceiling-paintings, red silk and gold-bordered carpet, and three windows reaching to the ground, through which the draught blew keenly and before which the claret-coloured curtains with their elaborate fringes were drawn. It had a false chimney-piece in French Empire taste, in front of which a semicircle of little modern quilted plush chairs without arms were arranged, and a hideously decorated white stove, which gave out a great heat. Two big

valry-sabre with a grotesque handle, "is directly connected with our conversation this afternoon. I may begin by saying that I discussed the matter t

us Heinrich, who was standing at attention

Grand Duke, "has been getti

cht-Hollerbrunn didn't

linde's. The performance of these duties may be a happiness when a contact with the people, a relationship, a beating of hearts in unison exists. To me it is a torture, and the falseness of my r?le wearies me to such a degree that I must consider what measures I can take to counteract it. In this-so far as the bodily

d. I simply don't believe it. At a distance, perhaps-that's th

relieve me of some of my representative duties now and then. I sh

bdicating, Albrecht?" ask

itution-perhaps you have some recollection of the distinction in public law from your student's days-a permanent and officially establishe

ut I'm not quite clear yet. How

tes that I should only devolve the opening and closure of Parliament on you when I'm bedridden, only now and again. Let's grant that. But otherwise y

at

custom without a doubt, but it tires me out. You would hold the a

t your

captain or a major straight away à la suite of your regiment-I'll see to that; but in the third place, I wish duly to emphasize our arrangement, to make your position at my side properly clear, by lending you the title of 'Royal Highness

that I am only a plebeian compared with you. But if you think me worthy to stand at your side and to bear your title and to represent you before the people, although I don't t

o leave me now, plea

r-his thin, cold hand which he stretched out from his chest without moving his forearm away from his body. Klaus Heinrich clapped his heels together and bowed as he took the hand, and Albr

hest importance, the one addressed to "My dear Minister of State, Baron von Knobelsdorff," and the other beginning wi