id Fink, "there being about it a
political mystery that is not quite clear even to myself."

"Is the estate large that you have just ceded?" inquired Von Toennchen.

"An estate!" said Fink, looking up to the sky; "it is no estate. It is a
district, mountain and vale, wood and water--but a small part,
certainly, of America. But then, what _is_ large? On the other side of
the Atlantic we measure things by a very different scale to that used in
this corner of Germany. At all events, I shall never again call the
property mine."

"But who is this Wohlfart?" asked the lieutenant.

"You shall make his acquaintance," answered Fink. "He is a handsome
youth from the heart of the province, over whom a remarkable destiny
hovers--of which, however, he knows, and is to know, nothing. But enough
of business. I have a plan for you this winter. You are old boys, it is
true; but you must take dancing-lessons."

And, so saying, he led the way into Feroni's, where the three were soon
deep in a bottle of port wine.

Frau von Baldereck was one of the main supports of the very best
society, consisting as it did of the families of the county nobility,
the officers, and a few of the highest officials. It was difficult to
say what had given this lady her social importance, for she was neither
very well connected, nor very rich, nor very elegant, nor very
intellectual. Perhaps it was this absence of all marked superiority
which accounted for it. She had a very large acquaintance, was rigidly
conventional, valued every one according to a social standard, and,
therefore, her estimate was always attended to. She had a young daughter
who promised to be very like her, and she inhabited a suite of large
rooms on a first floor, where for many years dramatic representations,
_tableaux vivants_, rehearsals, etc., had been constantly held.

This influential lady was deep in consultation with her mantuamaker as
to how the new dress of her daughter could be best made so as to display
her faultless bust without exciting comment at the dancing-lesson, when
her favorite, Fink, was announced. Dismissing a while the weighty
consideration, she hurried down to give him a most gracious reception.

After a few introductory remarks upon the last evening party at which
they had met, Fink began:

"I have obeyed your orders, lady patroness, and shall bring you three
gentlemen."

"And who are they?"

"First, Lieutenant von Zernitz."

"A great acquisition,"