This was the first warning addressed to Mr. Carson. If he didn’t come and negotiate now, worse things would happen.
Mr. Carson did not come; instead there arrived a new pass for another experimental laboratory. Prokop was furious. All right, he said to himself, this time he would show them what he could do. He ran off to his new laboratory, reflecting on the form which his protest would take. He decided for explosive potash, ignited by water. But, arrived at the new laboratory, he found himself helpless. That Carson was a devil!
Adjacent to the laboratory were the quarters of the factory guard. In the garden a good dozen children were playing about in the dirt, and a young mother was endeavouring to appease a little red-faced creature that was yelling vigorously. On seeing Prokop’s irate visage it suddenly stopped. “Good evening,” muttered Prokop, and wandered back with his fists clenched. Mr. Holz followed him five paces behind.
On the way to the castle he ran into the Princess on horseback accompanied by a whole cavalcade of officers. He would have turned off down a side path, but the Princess in a flash had ridden up to him. “If you would like to ride,” she said quickly, and her dark face flushed, “Premier is at your disposition.”
Prokop edged away from the careering Whirlwind. He had never been on a horse in his life, but would not have admitted this for anything in the world. “Thank you,” he said, “but there is no need … to sweeten … my imprisonment.”
The Princess frowned. It was certainly out of place to refer to the matter so directly in speaking to her; however, she controlled herself and, suavely combining a reproach and an invitation, answered: “I beg you not to forget that at the castle you are my guest.”
“That doesn’t matter to me,” mumbled Prokop obstinately, watching every movement of the nervous horse.
The Princess, irritated, made a movement with her foot; Whirlwind snorted and began to rear. “Don’t be frightened of him,” Willy threw out with a smile.
Prokop, furious, struck the horse a blow on the muzzle; the Princess raised her whip as if she wished to slash at his hand. All the blood rushed to Prokop’s head. “Look out,” he said through his teeth, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the Princess’s flashing ones. But at this point the officers became aware of the unfortunate incident, and cantered up to the Princess. “Hallo, what’s up?” cried the one who was riding in front on a black mare and made straight for Prokop. Prokop saw the horse’s head above him, seized hold of the bridle, and with all his force dragged it aside. The horse screamed with pain and reared up on its hind legs, while the officer flew into the arms of the tranquil Mr. Holz. Two sabres flashed in the sun; but quickly the Princess placed Whirlwind between Prokop and the officers. “Stop!” she ordered, “he is my guest!” and, giving Prokop a black look, she added: “Incidentally he is afraid of horses. Let me introduce you to one another. Lieutenant Rohlauf. Engineer Prokop. Prince Suwalski. Von Graun. The affair is settled, eh? When Rohlauf has mounted again we will go. Premier is at your disposition, sir. And please remember that here you are a guest. Au revoir!” The whips swished through the air, Whirlwind twisted round, and the cavalcade disappeared round the corner of the road. Only Mr. Rohlauf pranced round Prokop on his horse, fixing him with angry eyes, saying finally in a voice choked with anger: “You shall give me satisfaction, sir.”
Prokop swung round on his heel, returned to his room, and locked himself in. Two hours later a message was carried by the fragile Paul from the guest’s suite to the management. Immediately Mr. Carson ran to Prokop with a severe expression on his face; with a commanding gesture he pushed back Mr. Holz, who was quietly dreaming in an armchair outside the room, and went inside.
Mr. Holz took a seat in front of the castle and lit his pipe. From within there came a terrible roar, but Mr. Holz paid no attention to it; his pipe was not drawing properly. He unscrewed the stem, and in an expert manner cleaned it with a stalk of grass. From the guest’s suite could be heard the growling of two tigers whose teeth were fixed in one another; both roared, there was a sound of furniture being overturned, a moment of silence, and then a frightful cry from Prokop. People appeared from the garden; but Mr. Holz waved them away, and continued to occupy himself with his pipe. The uproar inside increased, both tigers roared still louder and threw themselves on one another in fury. Mr. Paul ran out of the castle as white as a sheet, lifting his terrified eyes to heaven. At that moment the Princess cantered up with her escort. When she heard the unholy turmoil in the
