He was drumming on the hearthstone with the end of
his sword scabbard. As we entered he rose and briefly saluted us.
"Which of you two gentlemen is Herr Winthrop?" he asked.
"I am he," said I.
"His Majesty commands your immediate presence at the palace."
"The King?"
"Yes."
"Have you any idea what his desires are?"
"A soldier never presumes to know His Majesty's desires, only his
commands. Let us begone at once, sir. I have been waiting for an
hour. His Majesty likes dispatch."
"It cannot be anything serious," said I to Pembroke, who wore a worried
frown.
Perhaps the King had heard of the duel. I was in a mood to care but
little what the King had heard, or what he was going to do. The thing
uppermost in my mind was that Gretchen had begged my life of the
Prince--and then run away!
At the palace the Chancellor met me in the anteroom. His face was
grave almost to gloominess.
"Have you ever seen a King angry?" he asked. "Ah, it is not a pleasant
sight, on my word; least of all, to the one who has caused a King's
anger."
"You alarm me," I said. "Have I done aught to bring the anger of the
King upon my head?"
"Ah, but you have! The King is like a bear in his den.
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