"
"I am fortunate in understanding horses."
"Well, you've made a friend in Pappenheim."
John gave him the reins and Kratzek, drawing himself a little stiffly
into the saddle, cantered away. John, although not recognized, felt as
if he had met a friend again, and Zillenstein seemed less lonely to him.
He watched Kratzek riding down the mountain until the firs and pines hid
him, and then, as he turned to go back to the stables, he found the two
maids near him, a little forward, and yet a little shy, but wholly
curious about the handsome young stranger.
Bearing in mind that the news of the household, even of a huge castle,
filtered most often through women, he smiled back at them and said
pleasantly in his new German:
"Good morning. May I ask your names?"
One was blond and the other brunette, and the brunette answered:
"We're Ilse and Olga, maids of the household of His Highness, Prince
Karl of Auersperg."
"And very pretty maids, too," said John gallantly, as he took off his
cap and bowed. "When I look at Ilse I think she is the more beautiful,
when I look at Olga I think she is the more beautiful, but when I see
them together I think they are equally beautiful."
They giggled and nudged each other.
"You are the man who rode the young count's horse," said Ilse, who took
the lead in talk as brunettes usually do, "and I hope you will pardon
our forwardness in wishing to look at so wonderful a person.
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