On this particular Wednesday morning, however, he had not been long about his manuscript when a door opened and the Prince stepped into the apartment.

The doctor watched him as he drew near, receiving, from each of the embayed windows in succession, a flush of morning sun; and Otto looked so gay, and walked so airily, he was so well dressed and brushed and frizzled, so point-device, and of such a sovereign elegance, that the heart of his cousin the recluse was rather moved against him.
'Good-morning, Gotthold,' said Otto, dropping in a chair.
'Good-morning, Otto,' returned the librarian.

'You are an early bird.
Is this an accident, or do you begin reforming ?' 'It is about time, I fancy,' answered the Prince.
'I cannot imagine,' said the Doctor.

'I am too sceptical to be an ethical adviser; and as for good resolutions, I believed in them when I was young.

They are the colours of hope's rainbow.' 'If you come to think of it,' said Otto, 'I am not a popular sovereign.' And with a look he changed his statement to a question.
'Popular?
Well, there I would distinguish,' answered Gotthold, leaning back and joining the tips of his fingers.