Auersperg sat in a great room overlooking the valley.

His chair stood on a slightly raised portion of the floor, and he was enthroned like a sovereign.

John, following Walther's example, bowed low before him.
"You may go, Walther," said Auersperg.

"I wish to speak alone with this young man." The master of the stables withdrew reluctantly, consumed by curiosity, and the young peasant in his rough brown dress stood alone before the prince.

One seemed the very personification of power and pride, the other of obscurity and insignificance, and yet so strangely does fate play with the fortunes of men that the fickle goddess was inclined toward the peasant in the matter that was nearest to the hearts of both.
John, be it said once more, had not the smallest faith in the supernatural, but it often seemed to him afterward that some power greater than that of man moved the prince to do what he was about to do.
Prince Karl of Auersperg stroked his great brown beard and looked at him long and thoughtfully.