Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/91

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Libussa.
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thy hidden flight as far as the eye can reach to which thou hast granted a clearer sight. I guess that thou hast hidden in thy basket the number of thirty plums, not one more nor one less.”

The princess looked kindly at him, and said, “Thou espiest the glimmering spark that is hidden in the ashes; to thee light breaks forth through mist and darkness. Thou hast rightly solved my riddle.”

Thereupon she opened her basket, and counted upon the hand of Prince Wladomir 15 plums and one over, and there remained still 14; of which she gave 7 to the knight Mizislas and one over, and there remained yet 6 in the basket; of which she gave half to the wise Primislas, and then added the three remaining, and the basket was empty.

The whole court was astonished at the arithmetical wisdom of Libussa, and the acuteness of her spouse. None could understand how human wit could on the one part hide a common number under such enigmatical words, and on the other find that number with such certainty out of its artificial secrecy. The empty basket Libussa gave to the two knights who could not obtain her favour, as a token of unrequited love. Thence