dwells in her petty palace; the other months find her here and there;
Paris, St. Petersburg, or Rome, as fancy wills. And I, I love her! Is
it not rich? What am I? A grub burrowing at the root of the tree in
which she, like a bird of paradise, displays her royal plumage.
'Masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet
forget not that I am an ass.' The father of this Princess once
rendered the present King's father a great service, and in return the
King turned over to his care a principality whose lineal descendants
had died out. It was with the understanding that so long as he
retained the King's goodwill, just so long he might possess the
principality, and that when he died the sovereignty would pass to his
children. The old King died, and his son sat upon his father's throne.
The father of the Princess also died. The King of to-day made the same
terms as his father before him. The Princess Hildegarde accepted them,
not counting the cost. Last spring she was coronated. Shortly before
the coronation, Prince Ernst of Wortumborg became a suitor for her
hand. The King was very much pleased. Prince Ernst was a cousin of
the Princess Hildegarde's father, and had striven for the principality
in the days gone by. The King, thinking to repair the imaginary wrongs
of the Prince, forced the suit. He impressed upon the Princess that it
was marry the Prince or give up her principality. She gave her
consent, not knowing what to do under the circumstances. Prince Ernst
is a Prince without principality or revenues. In marrying the Princess
he acquires both. I shall tell you how I became concerned."

Hillars laid his smoking pipe in the ash pan. He got up and roamed
about the room, stopped at the window and stared at the inken sky, then
returned to his chair.