lurking thought alone disturbed this esteem,--he was jealous of his
influence over Lizzy; he marked the pleasure with which she listened to
him, the eager delight she showed when he came, her readiness to sing or
play for him. Beecher saw all these in sorrow and bitterness; and though
twenty times a day he asked himself, "What the deuce is it to me,--how
can it possibly matter to _me_ whom she cares for?" the haunting dread
never left his mind, and became his very torturer. But why should he
worry himself about it at all? The fellow did what he liked with every
one. Rivers, the sulky training-groom, that would not have let a Royal
Highness see "the horse," actually took Klepper out and galloped him for
the Count. The austere landlady of the inn was smiles and courtesy
to him; even to that unpolished class, the hackney coachmen, his
blandishments extended, and they vied with each other who should serve
him.

"We are to start for Wiesbaden to-morrow," said Lizzy to Beecher.

"Why so,--who says so?"

"The Count"

"Si, si, andiamo,--all right!" cried the Count, laughing; and the march
was ordered.

CHAPTER XXXV. A FOREIGN COUNT.

The announcement of Count Lienstahl's arrival at Wiesbaden was received
with rejoicing. "Now we shall open the season in earnest. We shall have
balls, picnics, races, hurdle-matches, gypsy parties, excursions by
land and water. _He_ 'll manage everything and everybody." Such were the
exclamations that resounded along the Promenade as the party drove up
to the hotel. Within less than an hour the Count had been to Beberich
to visit the reigning Duke, he had kissed hands with half-a-dozen serene
highnesses, made his bow to the chief minister and the Governor of
Wiesbaden, and come back to dinner all smiles and delight at the
condescension and kindness of the court and the capital.

If Lienstahl's popularity was great, he only shared a very humble
portion of public attention when they appeared at the _table d'hote_.
There Lizzy Davis attracted every look, and the fame of her beauty was
already wide-spread. Such was the eagerness to obtain place at the
table that the most extravagant bribes were offered for a seat, and a
well-known elegant of Vienna actually paid a waiter five louis to cede
his napkin to him and let him serve in his stead. Beecher was anything
but gratified at these demonstrations. If his taste was offended, his
fears were also excited. "Something bad must come of it," was