Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray

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When the frightful act had been performed, Otto, who entered the little chamber in the
tower ringleted like Apollo, issued from it as cropped as a charity-boy.
See how melancholy he looks, now that the operation is over!—And no wonder. He was
thinking what would be Helen's opinion of him, now that one of his chief personal
ornaments was gone. "Will she know me?" thought he; "will she love me after this hideous
mutilation?"
Yielding to these gloomy thoughts, and, indeed, rather unwilling to be seen by his
comrades, now that he was so disfigured, the young gentleman had hidden himself behind
one of the buttresses of the wall, a prey to natural despondency; when he saw something
which instantly restored him to good spirits. He saw the lovely Helen coming towards the
chamber where the odious barber had performed upon him,—coming forward timidly,
looking round her anxiously, blushing with delightful agitation,—and presently seeing, as
she thought, the coast clear, she entered the apartment. She stooped down, and ah! what
was Otto's joy when he saw her pick up a beautiful golden lock of his hair, press it to her
lips, and then hide it in her bosom! No carnation ever blushed so redly as Helen did when
she came out after performing this feat. Then she hurried straightway to her own
apartments in the castle, and Otto, whose first impulse was to come out from his hidingplace,
and, falling at her feet, call heaven and earth to witness to his passion, with difficulty
restrained his feelings and let her pass: but the love-stricken young hero was so delighted
with this evident proof of reciprocated attachment, that all regret at losing his ringlets at
once left him, and he vowed he would sacrifice not only his hair, but his head, if need were,
to do her service.
That very afternoon, no small bustle and conversation took place in the castle, on account
of the sudden departure of the Rowski of Eulenschreckenstein, with all his train and
equipage. He went away in the greatest wrath, it was said, after a long and loud
conversation with the Prince. As that potentate conducted his guest to the gate, walking
rather demurely and shamefacedly by his side, as he gathered his attendants in the court,
and there mounted his charger, the Rowski ordered his trumpets to sound, and scornfully
flung a largesse of gold among the servitors and men-at-arms of the House of Cleves, who
were marshalled in the court. "Farewell, Sir Prince," said he to his host: "I quit you now
suddenly; but remember, it is not my last visit to the Castle of Cleves." And ordering his
band to play "See the Conquering Hero comes," he clattered away through the drawbridge.
The Princess Helen was not present at his departure; and the venerable Prince of Cleves
looked rather moody and chap-fallen when his guest left him. He visited all the castle
defences pretty accurately that night, and inquired of his officers the state of the
ammunition, provisions, &c. He said nothing; but the Princess Helen's maid did: and
everybody knew that the Rowski had made his proposals, had been rejected, and, getting up
in a violent fury, had called for his people, and sworn by his great gods that he would not