ut by no means unpleasing: "Adored Anna von
Zabelthau, most glorious of ladies, most choice of brides-elect; no
anger, I implore, no anger, no anger. I know you think my people laid
waste your beautiful vegetable garden to put up my palace. Oh, powers
of the universe, if you could but look into this little body of mine
which throbs with magnanimity and love; if you could but detect all the
cardinal virtues which are collected in my breast, under this yellow
Atlas habit. Oh, how guiltless am I of the shameful cruelty which you
attribute to me! How could a beneficent prince treat in such a way his
very own subjects. But hold--hold! What are words, phrases? You must
see with your own eyes, my betrothed, the splendours which attend you.
You must come with me at once. I will lead you to my palace, where a
joyful people await the arrival of her who is beloved by their lord."

It may be imagined how terrified Fraeulein Aennchen was at this
proposition of Cordovanspitz's, and how hard she tried to avoid going
so much as a single step with the little monster. But he continued to
describe the extraordinary beauty and the marvellous richness of the
vegetable garden which was his palace, in such eloquent and persuasive
language, that at last she thought she would just have a peep into the
marquee, as that couldn't do her much harm. The little creature, in his
joy and delight, turned at least twelve Catherine wheels in succession,
and then took her hand with much courtesy, and led her through the
garden to the silken palace.

With a loud "Ah!" Fraeulein Aennchen stood riveted to the ground with
delight when the curtains of the entrance drew apart, displaying a
vegetable garden stretching away further than the eye could reach, of
such marvellous beauty and luxuriance as was never seen in the
loveliest dreams. Here there was growing and flourishing every thing in
the nature of colewort, rape, lettuce, pease and beans, in such a
shimmer of light, and in such luxuriance that it is impossible to
describe it. A band of pipes, drums and cymbals sounded louder, and the
four gentlemen whose acquaintance she had previously made, viz. Herr
von Schwartzrettig, Monsieur de Rocambolle, Signor di Broccoli and Pan
Kapustowicz, approached with many ceremonious reverences.

"My chamberlains," said Porphyrio von Ockerodastes, smiling; and,
preceded by them, he conducted Fraeulein Aennchen through between the
double ranks of the bodyguard of Red Engl