No one had ever before dared to insult the sacred quiet. The
Prince was on his feet in a moment, and rushed into the corridor,
(dropping his mantle of sables by the way,) shouting.--
"Bring me the wretch who sang!"
The domestics scattered before him, for his face was terrible to
look upon. Some of them had heard the voice, indeed, but not one
of them had seen the culprit, who al ready lay upon a heap of hay
in one of the stables, and appeared to be sunk in innocent sleep.
"Who was it? who was it?" yelled the Prince, foaming at the
mouth with rage, as he rushed from chamber to chamber.
At last he halted at the top of the great flight of steps leading
into the court-yard, and repeated his demand in a voice of thunder.
The servants, trembling, kept at a safe distance, and some of them
ventured to state that the offender could not be discovered. The
Prince turned and entered one of the state apartments, whence came
the sound of porcelain smashed on the floor, and mirrors shivered
on the walls. Whenever they heard that sound, the immates of
the castle knew that a hurricane was let loose.
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