Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Preface by the General Editors
- List of Abbreviations
- Chronology of Robert Louis Stevenson
- Introduction
- PRINCE OTTO
- Dedication
- Book I Prince Errant
- Book II Of Love and Politics
- Chapter 1 WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LIBRARY
- Chapter 2 ‘ON THE COURT OF GRÜNEWALD,’ BEING A PORTION OF THE TRAVELLER'S MANUSCRIPT
- Chapter 3 THE PRINCE AND THE ENGLISH TRAVELLER
- Chapter 6 WHILE THE PRINCE IS IN THE ANTE-ROOM…
- Chapter 5 …GONDREMARK IS IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
- Chapter 6 THE PRINCE DELIVERS A LECTURE ON MARRIAGE, WITH PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF DIVORCE
- Chapter 7 THE PRINCE DISSOLVES THE COUNCIL
- Chapter 8 THE PARTY OF WAR TAKES ACTION
- Chapter 9 THE PRICE OF THE RIVER FARM; IN WHICH VAIN-GLORY GOES BEFORE A FALL
- Chapter 10 GOTTHOLD'S REVISED OPINION; AND THE FALL COMPLETED
- Chapter 11 PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE FIRST: SHE BEGUILES THE BARON
- Chapter 12 PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE SECOND: SHE INFORMS THE PRINCE
- Chapter 13 PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE THIRD: SHE ENLIGHTENS SERAPHINA
- Chapter 14 RELATES THE CAUSE AND OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION
- Book III Fortunate Misfortune
- Bibliographical Postscript
- Appendices
- Note on the Text
- Emendation List
- End-of-Line Hyphens
- Explanatory Notes
Chapter 1 - WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LIBRARY
from Book II - Of Love and Politics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2014
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Preface by the General Editors
- List of Abbreviations
- Chronology of Robert Louis Stevenson
- Introduction
- PRINCE OTTO
- Dedication
- Book I Prince Errant
- Book II Of Love and Politics
- Chapter 1 WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LIBRARY
- Chapter 2 ‘ON THE COURT OF GRÜNEWALD,’ BEING A PORTION OF THE TRAVELLER'S MANUSCRIPT
- Chapter 3 THE PRINCE AND THE ENGLISH TRAVELLER
- Chapter 6 WHILE THE PRINCE IS IN THE ANTE-ROOM…
- Chapter 5 …GONDREMARK IS IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER
- Chapter 6 THE PRINCE DELIVERS A LECTURE ON MARRIAGE, WITH PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF DIVORCE
- Chapter 7 THE PRINCE DISSOLVES THE COUNCIL
- Chapter 8 THE PARTY OF WAR TAKES ACTION
- Chapter 9 THE PRICE OF THE RIVER FARM; IN WHICH VAIN-GLORY GOES BEFORE A FALL
- Chapter 10 GOTTHOLD'S REVISED OPINION; AND THE FALL COMPLETED
- Chapter 11 PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE FIRST: SHE BEGUILES THE BARON
- Chapter 12 PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE SECOND: SHE INFORMS THE PRINCE
- Chapter 13 PROVIDENCE VON ROSEN: ACT THE THIRD: SHE ENLIGHTENS SERAPHINA
- Chapter 14 RELATES THE CAUSE AND OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION
- Book III Fortunate Misfortune
- Bibliographical Postscript
- Appendices
- Note on the Text
- Emendation List
- End-of-Line Hyphens
- Explanatory Notes
Summary
At a quarter before six on the following morning Doctor Gotthold was already at his desk in the library; and with a small cup of black coffee at his elbow, and an eye occasionally wandering to the busts and the long array of many-coloured books, was quietly reviewing the labours of the day before. He was a man of about forty, flaxen-haired, with refined features a little worn, and bright eyes somewhat faded. Early to bed and early to rise, his life was devoted to two things: erudition and Rhine wine. An ancient friendship existed latent between him and Otto; they rarely met, but when they did it was to take up at once the thread of their suspended intimacy. Gotthold, the virgin priest of knowledge, had envied his cousin, for half a day, when he was married; he had never envied him his throne.
Reading was not a popular diversion at the court of Grünewald; and that great, pleasant, sunshiny gallery of books and statues was, in practice, Gotthold's private cabinet. On this particular Wednesday morning, however, he had not been long about his manuscript when a door opened and the Prince stepped into the apartment. The doctor watched him as he drew near, receiving, from each of the embayed windows in succession, a flush of morning sun; and Otto looked so gay, and walked so airily, he was so well dressed and brushed and frizzled, so point-de-vice, and of such a sovereign elegance, that the heart of his cousin the recluse was rather moved against him.
‘Good morning, Gotthold,’ said Otto, dropping in a chair.
‘Good morning, Otto,’ returned the librarian. ‘You are an early bird. Is this an accident, or do you begin reforming?’
‘It is about time, I fancy,’ answered the Prince.
‘I cannot imagine,’ said the Doctor. ‘I am too sceptical to be an ethical adviser; and as for good resolutions, I believed in them when I was young. They are the colours of hope’s rainbow.’
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- Prince Otto, by Robert Louis Stevenson , pp. 37 - 44Publisher: Edinburgh University PressPrint publication year: 2014