with a little dark closet containing a bed.
"Signor," he said, with a profound bow, "these are, unfortunately, the
only two rooms I can offer you."

"They are small and mean," said the stranger, angrily.

"They are quiet and remote, and you will have the advantage of not being
disturbed by the ball which the club of the Prussiani are to hold in my
grand saloon to-night."

As he finished, he looked at the stranger hastily and searchingly, to
see what impression his words had upon him. He was decidedly astonished
and confused.

"The Prussian Club?" he said. "Are there so many Prussians here, and
are they to celebrate a gay feast when it appears to me they have every
reason to mourn for their king's misfortune?"

It was now the stranger who gazed searchingly at the host, and awaited
his answer with impatience.

"You ask if there are many Prussians here?" said the host, pathetically.
"Yes, there are a great many in la bella Venezia, eccellenza, chi non
e buon Prussiano, non e buon Veneziano. You say further, that the
Prussians have no reason to celebrate a festival, but should mourn for
their king's misfortunes. No, your excellency, the Prussians will never
have reason to despair, for a hero like the great Frederick can never
succumb. His sun is clouded for a moment, but it will burst forth again
brilliant and triumphant, and blind all his enemies. The Prussians
celebrate this feast to defy the Teresiani. They have their club at the
hotel of the 'Golden Fleece,' and held a grand ball there yesterday
in honor of their victory at Mayen. 'Tis true the king has lost two
battles, the battles of Kunersdorf and Mayen, but the Prussians do not
despair; for if the king has lost two battles, he will win four to make
up for them, and the Austrians, French, and Russians will flee before
him, as they did at Zorndorf and Rossbach. The Prussians wish to
celebrate this feast to convince the Teresiani that they are not
disturbed by the king's apparent misfortune, and are now celebrating the
victories that their great king is still to achieve."

The stranger's face beamed with delight. "The Prussians have great
confidence in their king," he said, with forced composure; "but you have
not yet told me why so many Prussians are stopping here?"

The host laughed. "Signor does not occupy himself with politics?"

"No," answered the stranger, with hesitation.

"Well, otherwise you would have known that there are many Prussians in
the wo