"Look at my clothes."
"You ought to be thankful that they are dry this time. Come;
you'll have a good story to carry back to Vienna. Princesses do
not eat people."
"No," said Maurice.
"Ye gods, listen to that! One would think by the tone of your
voice that you wished they did!"
There was no resisting this good humor; and Maurice wanted only
an excuse to wait. He sat down on the steps, sucked the knuckles
of his hand, and contemplated the grin on the cuirassier's face.
"I like you," said the Lieutenant; "I like your sangfroid. The
palace is a devil of a dull place, and a new face is a positive
relief. I suppose you know that affairs here are bad; no honesty
anywhere. Everybody has his hands tied. The students know this,
and do as they please. Think of two hundred gendarmes in the
city, and an affair like this takes place without one of them
turning up!
"I tell you frankly that it is all I can do to withhold the edge
of my saber when I meet those students. Last night they held a
noisy flambeau procession around the Hohenstaufenplatz, knowing
full well that the king had had another stroke and quiet was
necessary.
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