You said the Landgrave of Hesse sent you to me?" said she, roughly.

"Yes, princess," said the man; "he commanded me to seek your highness as
soon as I arrived in Berlin, and show you my collection, in order that
you might have the privilege of selecting before all others."

Amelia looked once more questioningly and fiercely upon the stranger,
but he remained cold and indifferent.

"Well, sir, show me your gems!"

He placed a large casket upon a table in the middle of the room; he
then unlocked it, and threw back the lid. In the different compartments,
splendid jewels of wondrous beauty were to be seen--rings, pins,
bracelets, and necklaces of rare workmanship and design.

"Diamonds," cried Amelia, contemptuously; "nothing but diamonds!"

"But diamonds of a strange fire and wondrous design," said the strange
jeweller. "Will not your highness graciously draw nearer, and observe
them?"

"I have no use for them: I wear no diamonds!" said Amelia: "if you have
nothing else to show me, close the casket; I shall make no purchase."

"I have, indeed, other and rarer treasures; some beautiful carved work,
by Cellini, some ivory carving of the middle ages, and a few rare and
costly cameos. Perhaps these may please the taste of your highness?"

The jeweller raised the first compartment, and taking out a number of
beautiful and costly articles, he laid them upon the table, explained
the workmanship and design of each piece, and called the attention of
the princess to their wondrous beauty.

Amelia listened carelessly to his words. These things had no interest
for her; she looked only at one object--a round packet, rolled in paper,
which the stranger had taken with the other articles from the casket;
this must be something particularly costly. It was carefully wrapped in
silk paper, while every thing else lay confusedly together, and yet this
seemed the only treasure which the jeweller did not seem disposed to
exhibit. Amelia, however, remarked that he raised this mysterious packet
several times, as if it was in his way; changed its place, but every
time brought it nearer to her. It now lay immediately in front of her.

"What does that paper contain?" said she.

"Oh, that has no interest for your royal highness; that is a worthless
object! Will you have the goodness to examine this seal? It represents
the holy Saint Michael, treading the dragon under his feet, and it is
one of the most successful and beautiful works of Be