"So be it," said the Prince of Cleves, taking his daughter's arm--"and here comes Snipwitz, my barber, who shall do the business for you." With this the Prince too moved on, feeling in his heart not a little compassion for the lad; for Adolf of Cleves had been handsome in his youth, and distinguished for the ornament of which he was now depriving his archer.
Snipwitz led the poor lad into a side-room, and there--in a word--operated upon him.

The golden curls--fair curls that his mother had so often played with!--fell under the shears and round the lad's knees, until he looked as if he was sitting in a bath of sunbeams.
When the frightful act had been performed, Otto, who entered the little chamber in the tower ringleted like Apollo, issued from it as cropped as a charity-boy.
See how melancholy he looks, now that the operation is over!--And no wonder.

He was thinking what would be Helen's opinion of him, now that one of his chief personal ornaments was gone.

"Will she know me ?" thought he; "will she love me after this hideous mutilation ?" Yielding to these gloomy thoughts, and, indeed, rather unwilling to be seen by his comrades, now that he was so disfigured, the young gentleman had hidden himself behind one of the buttresses of the wall, a prey to natural despondency; when he saw something which instantly restored him to good spirits.

He saw the lovely Helen coming towards the chamber where the odious barber had performed upon him,--coming forward timidly, looking round her anxiously, blushing with delightful agitation,--and presently seeing, as she thought, the coast clear, she entered the apartment.