Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/130

 as soon as I had finished my recruiting business, but I was told you had been sent by your prince to England on affairs of state."

"Your kindness deserves my warmest acknowledgment, and I am very sorry that I had the misfortune of being absent when you intended to do me the honor of seeing me."

"Your absence vexed me very much," he replied, "because it not only deprived me of the pleasure of seeing once more an old friend, but also prevented me from performing the promise I had given you when we parted: This happy meeting affords me, therefore, the greatest pleasure, and if you will favor me with your company, at my apartments, I can give you a satisfactory account of several accidents which happened before and after our adventure at the castle, and which are nearly connected with what we have encountered."