glued to the stage, Hilda stole a glance at the upper balconies
where impecunious young officers leaned over the rail and gazed
at her respectfully.

Prince Ferdinand William Otto considered it all very wearisome.
If one could only wander around the corridor or buy a sandwich
from the stand at the foot of the great staircase - or, better
still, if one could only get to the street, alone, and purchase
one of the fig women that Miss Braithwaite so despised! The
Crown Prince felt in his pocket, where his week's allowance of
pocket-money lay comfortably untouched.

The Archduchess, shielded by the velvet hangings with the royal
arms on them, was now quite comfortably asleep. From the
corridor came sounds indicating that the Chancellor preferred
making noises to listening to them. There were signs on the
stage that Frau Hugli, braids, six children, and all, was about
to go into the arms of the man with the false beard.

The Crown Prince meditated. He could go out quickly, and be back
before they knew it. Even if he only wandered about the
corridor, it would stretch his short legs. And outside it was a
fine day. It looked already like spring.

With the trepidation of a canary who finds his cage door open,
and, hopping to the threshold, surveys the world before venturing
to explore it, Prince Ferdinand William Otto rose to his feet,
tiptoed past the Archduchess Annunciata, who did not move, and
looked around him from the doorway.