“Then why should he object?” asked the Prince. “Mr. Beckendorff is the best judge, sir, of the propriety of his own regulations.” “Well, well!” said Vivian, more interested for his friend than himself, “there is no difficulty in asking Mr. Beckendorff?” “None in the least, sir,” answered the housekeeper, “when he is awake.” “Awake!” said the Prince, “why! is he asleep now?” “Yes, sir, in the library.” “And how long will he be asleep?” asked the Prince, with eagerness. “It is uncertain; he may be asleep for hours, he may wake in five minutes; all I can do is to watch.” “But, surely in a case like the present, you can wake your master?” “I could not wake Mr. Beckendorff, sir, if the house were on fire. No one can enter the room when he is asleep.” “Then how can you possibly know when he is awake?” “I shall hear his violin immediately, sir.” “Well, well! I suppose it must be so. I wish we were in Turriparva; that is all I know. Men of my station have no business to be paying visits to the sons of the Lord knows who! peasants, shopkeepers, and pedagogues!” As a fire was blazing in the dining-room, which Mrs. Clara informed them Mr. Beckendorff never omitted having every night in the year, the Prince and his friend imagined that they were to remain there, and they consequently did not attempt to disturb the slumbers of their host. Resting his feet on the hobs, his Highness, for the fiftieth time, declared that he wished he had never left Turriparva; and just when Vivian was on the point of giving up in despair the hope of consoling him, Mrs. Clara entered and proceeded to lay the cloth. “Your master is awake, then?” asked the Prince, very quickly. “Mr. Beckendorff has been long awake, sir! and dinner will be ready immediately.” His Highness’ countenance brightened; and in a short time the supper appearing, the Prince, again fascinated by Mrs. Clara’s cookery and Mr. Beckendorff’s wine, forgot his chagrin, and regained his temper. In about a couple of hours Mr. Beckendorff entered. “I hope that Clara has given you wine you like, Mr. von Philipson?” “The same bin, I will answer for that.”