Instead of replying, the Prince reddened. He was ashamed to expose his ignorance. The old man read this in his looks, and continued: “Perhaps your princely parents have kept the knowledge of such things from you. Yes, yes, it must be so. They may think their dear son will have enough of suffering without this. Well, well, they are right, the good parents.” The Prince had lost all desire to go to the miller’s house. He gave the Baron to understand this and both rode off. On the way, Leuchtmar said to him: “The miller has mentioned things about which we will talk later, if your parents think it advisable. I will communicate with them at once, and in the meantime beg you patiently to await their decision.” Chapter X The Hunting-Castle It was in the morning of a beautiful spring day that the Prince and Leuchtmar rode together into the forest. They were on their way to the hunting-castle of Letzlingen, which the Prince’s parents had selected as his summer residence. The Prince had been there during the previous summer and had left it in the autumn with the woodbirds of the romantic spot. He had looked forward longingly to this journey and could hardly wait for the day of departure. When he left in the autumn, the firs, enveloped in haze, looked to him like priests in dark robes standing at graves. Now the trees and shrubs were arrayed in bright new garments. He was overcome with joy in the fragrant arcades of the forest, shot through with golden sunbeams. What a soft, delicious life met his gaze everywhere. Now nimble squirrels frisked up the gray trunks of the oaks and watched the travellers inquisitively with bushy ears and tails uplifted. Again, a woodpecker tapped upon a dry limb, and under a tree stood a deer and two fauns, the slender animals looking fearlessly at the riders with their dark, beautiful eyes. Wood-doves, rollers, and nuthatches enlivened the crowns of the high oaks and firs. The cuckoo called in the distance, and in the clear sky a hawk circled with shrill screams. The riders were now nearing the castle. The dogs must have known of their coming, for their loud barking was heard in the distance. “I know every one of them by their voices,” said the Prince delightedly. “I hear Nimrod, and Diana, and Ajax. I wonder if they will know me?” “Dogs are just as grateful to those who treat them well as men are,” replied Leuchtmar. “They have not forgotten their last summer’s friend.” At a short distance from the castle stood a charcoal-burner’s house. He was evidently aware of the Prince’s coming, for the family were at the door and the little cherry-cheeked daughter handed the Prince a nosegay.