parition had once
glided before me in other days. The chorus began, and sang the praise of
a good monarch, and the happiness of his people.

And this happened, my friend, in the bright sunshine: she continued to
kneel some two steps before me, and I, shadowless, dared not spring over
the gulf, that I might fall on my knees in her angelic presence. What
would I not have given in that moment for a shadow! I was obliged to
conceal my shame, my anguish, my despair, by sinking back into the
carriage. Bendel relieved me from my embarrassment: he leaped out from
the other side--I called him back--and gave him out of my little casket,
which lay close at hand, a rich diamond crown which was intended to adorn
the lovely Fanny. He moved forward, and spoke in his master's name, "who
neither could," he said, "nor would accept such flattering marks of
honour; there must have been some error, though he could not but thank
the worthy townspeople for their expressions of kindness." He then took
the garland of flowers from its place, and put there instead of it the
crown of diamonds. His hand assisted the beautiful maiden to rise, and
with a look of dignity he sent away the clergy, magistrates and deputies.
Nobody was allowed a farther audience. He bade the crowd retire, and
make room for the horses, and flung himself into the carriage, and off we
went in a rapid gallop to the town, through the arches of flowers and
laurels which had been erected. The cannon continued to thunder--the
coach at last reached my abode. I turned hastily through the door,
dividing the assembly who had gathered together to see me. The mob
cried, "God bless him!" under my window; and I ordered double ducats to
be scattered among them. At night the town was spontaneously
illuminated.

And I knew not yet what all this meant, nor who I was imagined to be. I
sent out Rascal to get information. He discovered that the people
believed they had certain information that the good king of Prussia was
travelling through the country, under the title of count;--that my
adjutant had been recognized, and had discovered both himself and me;--in
a word, that infinite joy had been felt at the certainty of having me
among them. They had ascertained, indeed, that as I wished to preserve
the strictest _incognito_, it had been wrong to draw up the veil so
intrudingly;--but as I had expressed my displeasure with so much
graciousness and kindness, surely my generous hear