'I beg your pardon, your Highness, not to have recognised you at once.' The Prince was vexed out of his self-possession.

'Since you know me,' he said, 'it is unnecessary we should ride together.

I will precede you, if you please.' And he was about to set spur to the grey mare, when the half-drunken fellow, reaching over, laid his hand upon the rein.
'Hark you,' he said, 'prince or no prince, that is not how one man should conduct himself with another.

What! You'll ride with me incog.

and set me talking! But if I know you, you'll preshede me, if you please! Spy!' And the fellow, crimson with drink and injured vanity, almost spat the word into the Prince's face.
A horrid confusion came over Otto.