He walked up and down in his rooms at the hotel, saying again and again: "This is a hotel and not a castle; I will not remain here!" A few days later he took the villa "Guttenberg," whence he made many excursions in the neighbourhood. The cantonal government placed a steamer at his disposal, and this he very often used. Kainz recited to him in the beautiful moonlight nights, and from the banks of the lake of Lucerne he heard the joyous Swiss peasant songs. His friendly manner won much sympathy in the neighbourhood. One Sunday seven pretty young Swiss girls announced themselves at his villa; they had come to ask him for money in order to go to America. As he was not at home one of them requested some writing materials, after which, in a bright and original manner, she penned the wishes of herself and her friends. The letter was laid before the King, who was greatly amused at it. He answered, however, that he loved and honoured the Swiss people far too well for him to be a party to the leaving of it of seven of its most charming daughters. It is said that the Swiss people gave utterance to the following sentiment: "If we had to elect a king for ourselves, our choice could not fall on any other than Ludwig II. of Bavaria." He had a great affection for and visited often the beautiful Rütli, the spot where the ancient Swiss took their oath of allegiance. Kainz accompanied him thither, and they spent hours together at the view, where the young actor would recite the Rütli song: "Sei, Rütli, mir freundlich gegrüsset, Du stilles Gelände am See, Wo spielend die Welle zerfliesset, Genährt vom ewigen Schnee! Gepriessen sei, friedliche Stätte, Gepriessen sei, heiliges Land, Wo sprengten des Sklaventums Kette Die Väter mit kräftiger Hand. Da standen die Väter zusammen Für Freiheit und heimisches Gut Und schwuren beim heiligsten Namen, Zu stürzen die Zwingherrenbrut!" They went almost every evening to a neighbouring inn where they partook of a meal, the King being exceedingly modest in his demands, and not even requiring dinner-napkins or a tablecloth. He was in the habit of talking much to the landlord, whom he liked to give him information as to the mode of life of the Swiss peasantry. The King's relations with Kainz became somewhat cooler on the former's side towards the end of their stay in Switzerland. One evening at Rütli Ludwig asked him to recite something from Schiller's Wilhelm Tell. The actor was willing to do this, but put it off till later. At two in the morning Ludwig repeated his request, when Kainz replied that he was too tired to recite anything. Ludwig looked at him a moment in astonishment and was silent. At last he said: "Oh, you are tired, are you? Rest, then!" and turning on his heel walked away.