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“‘Which is what we came to give you,’ said the good hermit, as he warmly pressed the hand of the Prince.

“After supper the Prince and his guests retired to an inner room for consultation, while the Adherent stood in the background. After some discussion it was decided that early in the morning the Prince should go to the palace, and should agree to lease the principality for five years, provided the Dowager would accept one half the sum she had originally asked; and that he should also absolutely refuse to board the Dowager, or to allow her to reserve any part of the palace for her own use. He would promise to pay one quarter’s rent in advance if these terms were agreed upon on the spot.

“It was nearly high noon on the following day that the Dowager left the palace, taking with her all her belongings. As she departed she turned and cast a black look at the Adherent.

“‘It is to his advice,’ she said to herself, ‘that I owe this very bad bargain that I have made. If that young fellow had been left to himself he would have agreed to everything I demanded.’

“For an hour or two before she left the Prince had been wandering around the premises, impatiently waiting for her departure. As soon as she was gone, he called to his Adherent, and sent him to the inn to summon the hermit and his daughter to his presence. He wished to be grateful to these good friends, but, as he had a respect to appearances, he did not desire the Dowager to know that these humble persons were to be his first guests in the palace.

“When the hermit and his daughter arrived at the palace they received a princely welcome, and Ferrando informed them that he wished them to make him a visit of at least a week.

“‘You have been so good to me that I wish to do the best for you; and so I have arranged that you shall occupy the state suite in the right wing.’

“‘We are thankful for this great honor,’ said the hermit; ‘but, if it would please your Royal Highness, we should prefer the corresponding rooms in the left wing. We think they will suit us better.’

“The Prince raised his eyebrows in surprise, but he gave orders that his guests’ wishes should be gratified. The Adherent, who was standing in the background, raised his eyebrows also; but he was not surprised.

“In about half an hour the hermit and his daughter rejoined the Prince in the grand hall. To his utter amazement, Ferrando beheld his guests dressed in rich and handsome garments.

“‘Did they bring any trunks with them?’ he whispered to his Adherent, as they approached.

“‘No, your Royal Highness,’ was the answer. ‘They brought nothing but a basket of water-cress, which the lady said had been freshly picked and ought not to be wasted.’

“With great dignity the hermit advanced to the Prince, and by his side walked his daughter, who was so beautiful in her silks and laces that the Prince found it impossible to remove his eyes from her.

“‘In order to explain this change in our appearance,’ said the hermit, ‘I will state that the Dowager from whom you rented this principality is my brother’s widow. Before he died he arranged that the Dowager should reign over the principality as long as she lived, and that my daughter should then succeed her. At the same time, knowing that his wife did not understand the governing of principalities, he appointed me Assistant Prince, with a salary. This seemed like a very good plan, but it did not work. The Dowager soon showed such a disposition to meddle with everything that was going on that my position gradually became so intolerable that I determined to retire to a hermit’s cell, to which my daughter accompanied me.’

“With his mind scarcely able to grasp the situation, the Prince gazed from the one to the other of his guests. ‘Can it be possible,’ he said presently, ‘that in renting this principality I have interfered with your prospects?’