s a knock at the door, and without even waiting for a
reply, a tall fellow in a rich huntsman's livery, boldly entered, as if
entirely at home.

The young lady had hastily started up and was gazing at the intruder in
speechless alarm. Edwin had also risen from his knees, with the bellows
still in his hand, and was just in the act of accosting the man, when
the latter, with an elegant bow to Toinette, drew a letter from his
pocket and laid it on the little table before the sofa.

"Beg pardon, Fraeulein, if I have disturbed you," he said casting an
insolent glance at Edwin, "but the Herr Count expressly commanded me to
deliver this note into your own hands."

"Did not my servant tell you--?" Toinette interrupted.

"That his young lady was not at home, yes; and also that she wished to
receive no notes, and preferred not to know the Herr Count, as she had
already intimated by not answering the letters His Excellency sent
through the post office--"

"Leave this room at once," fell with great difficulty from the lips of
the pallid girl, "and if you venture to come again and force an
entrance in this way--I shall find some means to protect my rights in
this house."

"Pardon me, Fraeulein," said the impudent fellow, with a saucy grin,
"but no one has any rights in a house except the person to whom it
belongs. If it is agreeable to my lord the count, to have his servant
turned out of a house, or the doors shut in his face, when His
Excellency is, so to speak, the tenant--"

"Insolent rascal!" Edwin burst forth. "Did you not hear what the young
lady told you? I've not the honor of your master's acquaintance. But if
he's a gentleman, it cannot be his intention to have a lady insulted by
a boorish lackey!"

The man, with cool impertinence, measured the person who so
unexpectedly addressed him from head to foot.

"And I, sir, have not the honor of your acquaintance," he retorted.
"But as for my conduct, no one but the Herr Count has a right to call
me a boor. There is the letter, and now I can go, as I have done my
errand. I had no idea of insulting the young lady, that would have been
entirely against my orders. But to have the first stranger--"

Edwin involuntarily raised the little weapon he held in his hand, but
the next instant recollected himself. The bellows fell on the floor, he
passed close by the man, opened the drawing room door, and fixing a
firm glance on the suddenly intimidated lackey, exclaimed: "Be off!"