The man remained silent for a while, his head still projecting
through the wicket.

'His Highness!' he said at last. 'And why did your Highness knock
so strange?'

'It is a superstition in Mittwalden,' answered Otto, 'that it
cheapens corn.'

With a sound like a sob the groom fled. He was very white when he
returned, even by the light of the lantern; and his hand trembled as
he undid the fastenings and took the mare.

'Your Highness,' he began at last, 'for God's sake . . . . ' And
there he paused, oppressed with guilt.

'For God's sake, what?' asked Otto cheerfully. 'For God's sake let
us have cheaper corn, say I. Good-night!' And he strode off into
the garden, leaving the groom petrified once more.

The garden descended by a succession of stone terraces to the level
of the fish-pond. On the far side the ground rose again, and was
crowned by the confused roofs and gables of the palace. The modern
pillared front, the ball-room, the great library, the princely
apartments, the busy and illuminated quarters of that great house,
all faced the town. The garden side was much older; and here it was
almost dark; only a few windows quietly lighted at various
elevations. The great square tower rose, thinning by stages like a
telescope; and on the top of all the flag hung motionless.