'
'Your Highness is, I am sure, far too magnanimous to hesitate,' said
the Colonel. 'But allow me: we speak at home in my religion of the
means of grace: and I now propose to offer them.' So saying, the
Colonel lighted a bright lamp which he attached to one side of the
carriage, and from below the front seat produced a goodly basket
adorned with the long necks of bottles. 'TU SPEM REDUCIS - how does
it go, Doctor?' he asked gaily. 'I am, in a sense, your host; and I
am sure you are both far too considerate of my embarrassing position
to refuse to do me honour. Gentlemen, I drink to the Prince!'
'Colonel,' said Otto, 'we have a jovial entertainer. I drink to
Colonel Gordon.'
Thereupon all three took their wine very pleasantly; and even as
they did so, the carriage with a lurch turned into the high-road and
began to make better speed.
All was bright within; the wine had coloured Gotthold's cheek; dim
forms of forest trees, dwindling and spiring, scarves of the starry
sky, now wide and now narrow, raced past the windows, through one
that was left open the air of the woods came in with a nocturnal
raciness; and the roll of wheels and the tune of the trotting horses
sounded merrily on the ear. Toast followed toast; glass after glass
was bowed across and emptied by the trio; and presently there began
to fall upon them a luxurious spell, under the influence of which
little but the sound of quiet and confidential laughter interrupted
the long intervals of meditative silence.
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