'
'You think I would lie, do you?' cried the man with the bottle,
purpling deeper.
'I know you would,' returned Otto, entering entirely into his self-
possession. 'You would not even show me the medal you wear about
your neck.' For he had caught a glimpse of a green ribbon at the
fellow's throat.
The change was instantaneous: the red face became mottled with
yellow: a thick-fingered, tottering hand made a clutch at the tell-
tale ribbon. 'Medal!' the man cried, wonderfully sobered. 'I have
no medal.'
'Pardon me,' said the Prince. 'I will even tell you what that medal
bears: a Phoenix burning, with the word LIBERTAS.' The medallist
remaining speechless, 'You are a pretty fellow,' continued Otto,
smiling, 'to complain of incivility from the man whom you conspire
to murder.'
'Murder!' protested the man. 'Nay, never that; nothing criminal for
me!'
'You are strangely misinformed,' said Otto. 'Conspiracy itself is
criminal, and ensures the pain of death. Nay, sir, death it is; I
will guarantee my accuracy. Not that you need be so deplorably
affected, for I am no officer. But those who mingle with politics
should look at both sides of the medal.'
'Your Highness . . . . ' began the knight of the bottle.
'Nonsense! you are a Republican,' cried Otto; 'what have you to do
with highnesses? But let us continue to ride forward. Since you so
much desire it, I cannot find it in my heart to deprive you of my
company.
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