Uberta.

"Three weeks ago, when we were travelling in this region," continued
Hahn, determined not to allow his temper to be ruffled, "we heard a
most wonderful voice yodling in the mountains. We went away, but have
now returned, and having learned that the voice was your daughter's,
we have come here to offer her a thousand florins if she will sing her
native Tyrolese airs for eight weeks at our Concert Garden, the 'Haute
Noblesse.'"

"One thousand florins for eight weeks, mother!" exclaimed Ilka, who
had been listening to Hahn's speech with breathless interest. "Then I
could pay off the mortgage and we should not have to pay interest any
more, and I should have one hundred and fifty florins left for my
dowry."

"Hush, child, hush! You don't know what you are talkin' about," said
the mother severely. Then turning to Hahn: "I should like to put one
question to both of you, and when you have answered that, I'll give my
answer, which there is no wrigglin' out of. If the old woman went
along, would ye _then_ care so much about the singin' of the
daughter?"

"Certainly, by all means," responded Hahn promptly; but Fritz was so
absorbed in polishing his finger-nails with a little instrument
designed especially for that purpose, that he forgot to answer.

A long consultation now followed, and the end of it was that Ilka
agreed to go to Berlin and sing for eight weeks, in her national
costume, on condition that her travelling expenses and those of her
mother should be defrayed by the manager. Mr. Hahn also agreed to pay
for the board and lodgings of the two women during their sojourn in
the capital and to pay Ilka the one thousand florins (and this was a
point upon which Mother Uberta strenuously insisted) in weekly
instalments.

The next day the contract was drawn up in legal form, properly stamped
and signed; whereupon Mother Uberta and Ilka started with Hahn and
Fritz for Berlin.

III.

The restaurant of the "Haute Noblesse" was a splendid specimen of
artistic decoration. The walls were frescoed with all sorts of
marvellous hunting scenes, which Fritz had gradually incorporated in
his own autobiography. Here stags were fleeing at a furious speed
before a stout young gentleman on horseback, who was levelling his
deadly aim at them; there the same stout young gentleman, with
whiskers and general appearance slightly altered, was standing behind
a big tree, firing at a hare who was coming straight toward him,