regiment of cavalry came out from the courtyard with a thundering
of hoofs, wheeled at the street, and clattered off.

Very unusual, all of it.

The Crown Prince Ferdinand William Otto felt in his pocket for
his handkerchief, and, moistening a corner with his tongue, wiped
his face. Then he wiped his shoes. Then, with his hands in his
trousers pockets, he sauntered into the light.

Now sentries are trained to be impassive. The model of a sentry
is a wooden soldier. A really good sentry does not sneeze or
cough on duty. Did any one ever see a sentry, for instance, wipe
his nose? Or twirl his thumbs? Or buy a newspaper? Certainly
not.

Therefore the two sentries made no sign when they saw Ferdinand
William Otto approaching. But one of them forgot to bring his
musket to salute. He crossed himself instead. And something
strained around the other sentry's lower jaw suddenly relaxed
into a smile as His Royal Highness drew a hand from its refuge
and saluted. He glanced first at one, then at the other, rather
sheepishly, hesitated between them, clapped his hat on more
securely, and marched in.

"The young rascal!" said the second sentry to himself. And by
turning his head slightly - for a sentry learns to see all around
like a horse, without twisting his neck - he watched the runaway
into the palace.