But I am your servant, and, in all that hurts not the essence and matter of my love for the Little Playmate, I will do even as you say." Prince Karl grasped my hand.
"Ah, well said!" he cried.

"You are running your head into a peck of troubles, though.

And you are likely to have some experience of womenkind shortly--a thing which does no brisk young fellow any harm, unless he lets them come between him and his career.

Women are harmless enough, so that you keep them well down to leeward.

I am Baltic-bred, and have ever held to this--that you may sail unscathed through fleets of farthingales, so being that you keep the wind well on your quarter, and see the fair-way clear before you." I did not at the time understand half he said, but I knew we had made some sort of a bargain.