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have helped him out with his observations； but Kenby would have got in
the way； and would have clogged the movement of his fancy in assigning
the facts to the parts he would like them to play in the sketch。
At least he made some such excuses to himself as he hurried along toward
the Kaiserstrasse。 The draught of universal interest in that direction
had left the other streets almost deserted； but as he approached the
thoroughfare he found all the ways blocked； and the horse…cars；
ordinarily so furiously headlong； arrested by the multiple ranks of
spectators on the sidewalks。 The avenue leading from the railway station
to the palace was decorated with flags and garlands； and planted with the
stems of young firs and birches。 The doorways were crowded； and the
windows dense with eager faces peering out of the draped bunting。 The
carriageway was kept clear by mild policemen who now and then allowed one
of the crowd to cross it。
The crowd was made up mostly of women and boys； and when March joined
them； they had already been waiting an hour for the sight of the princes
who were to bless them with a vision of the faery race which kings always
are to common men。 He thought the people looked dull； and therefore able
to bear the strain of expectation with patience better than a livelier
race。 They relieved it by no attempt at joking； here and there a dim
smile dawned on a weary face； but it seemed an effect of amiability
rather than humor。 There was so little of this； or else it was so well
bridled by the solemnity of the occasion； that not a man； woman； or child
laughed when a bareheaded maid…servant broke through the lines and ran
down between them with a life…size plaster bust of the Emperor William in
her arms： she carried it like an overgrown infant； and in alarm at her
conspicuous part she cast frightened looks from side to side without
arousing any sort of notice。 Undeterred by her failure； a young dog；
parted from his owner； and seeking him in the crowd； pursued his search
in a wild flight down the guarded roadway with an air of anxiety that in
America would have won him thunders of applause； and all sorts of kindly
encouragements to greater speed。 But this German crowd witnessed his
progress apparently without interest； and without a sign of pleasure。
They were there to see the Prince…Regent arrive； and they did not suffer
themselves to be distracted by any preliminary excitement。 Suddenly the
indefinable emotion which expresses the fulfilment of expectation in a
waiting crowd passed through the multitude； and before he realized it
March was looking into the friendly gray…bearded face of the Prince…
Regent； for the moment that his carriage allowed in passing。 This came
first preceded by four outriders； and followed by other simple equipages
of Bavarian blue； full of highnesses of all grades。 Beside the Regent
sat his daughter…in…law； the Princess Maria； her silvered hair framing a
face as plain and good as the Regent's； if not so intelligent。
He； in virtue of having been born in Wurzburg； is officially supposed to
be specially beloved by his fellow townsmen； and they now testified their
affection as he whirled through their ranks； bowing right and left； by
what passes in Germany for a cheer。 It is the word Hoch； groaned forth
from abdominal depths； and dismally prolonged in a hollow roar like that
which the mob makes behind the scenes at the theatre before bursting in
visible tumult on the stage。 Then the crowd dispersed； and March came
away wondering why such a kindly…looking Prince…Regent should not have
given them a little longer sight of himself； after they had waited so
patiently for hours to see him。 But doubtless in those countries； he
concluded； the art of keeping the sovereign precious by suffering him to
be rarely and briefly seen is wisely studied。
On his way home he resolved to confess Kenby's presence； and he did so as
soon as he sat down to supper with his wife。 〃I ought to have told you
the first thing after breakfast。 But when I found you in that mood of
having the place all to ourselves； I put it off。〃
〃You took terrible chances； my dear；〃 she said； gravely。
〃And I have been terribly punished。 You've no idea how much Kenby has
talked to me about Mrs。 Adding！〃
She broke out laughing。 〃Well； perhaps you've suffered enough。 But you
can see now； can't you； that it would have been awful if I had met him；
and let out that I didn't know he was here？〃
〃Terrible。 But if I had told； it would have spoiled the whole morning
for you； you couldn't have thought of anything else。〃
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 she said； airily。 〃What should you think if I told
you I had known he was here ever since last night？〃 She went on in
delight at the start he gave。 〃I saw him come into the hotel while you
were gone for the guide…books； and I determined to keep it from you as
long as I could； I knew it would worry you。 We've both been very nice；
and I forgive you；〃 she hurried on； 〃because I've really got something to
tell you。〃
〃Don't tell me that Burnamy is here！〃
〃Don't jump to conclusions！ No； Burnamy isn't here； poor fellow！ And
don't suppose that I'm guilty of concealment because I haven't told you
before。 I was just thinking whether I wouldn't spare you till morning；
but now I shall let you take the brunt of it。 Mrs。 Adding and Rose are
here。〃 She gave the fact time to sink in； and then she added； 〃And Miss
Triscoe and her father are here。〃
〃What is the matter with Major Eltwin and his wife being here； too？ Are
they in our hotel？〃
〃No； they are not。 They came to look for rooms while you were off
waiting for the Prince…Regent； and I saw them。 They intended to go to
Frankfort for the manoeuvres； but they heard that there was not even
standing…room there； and so the general telegraphed to the Spanischer
Hof； and they all came here。 As it is； he will have to room with Rose；
and Agatha and Mrs。 Adding will room together。 I didn't think Agatha was
looking very well； she looked unhappy； I don't believe she's heard； from
Burnamy yet； I hadn't a chance to ask her。 And there's something else
that I'm afraid will fairly make you sick。〃
〃Oh； no； go on。 I don't think anything can do that； after an afternoon
of Kenby's confidences。〃
〃It's worse than Kenby；〃 she said with a sigh。 〃You know I told you at
Carlsbad I thought that ric1icnlous old thing was making up to Mrs。
Adding。〃
〃Kenby ？ Why of co〃
〃Don't be stupid； my dear！ No； not Kenby： General Triscoe。 I wish you
could have been here to see him paying her all sort； of silly attentions；
and hear him making her compliments。〃
〃Thank you。 I think I'm just as well without it。 Did she pay him silly
attentions and compliments； too？〃
〃That's the only thing that can make me forgive her for his wanting her。
She was keeping him at arm's…length the whole time； and she was doing it
so as not to make him contemptible before his daughter。〃
〃It must have been hard。 And Rose？〃
〃Rose didn't seem very well。 He looks thin and pale； but he's sweeter
than ever。 She's certainly commoner clay than Rose。 No； I won't say
that！ It's rea