itaries of the land, ministers and envoys, and
grand "charges" of the Court. The embroidered key of the Chamberlain and
the purple stockings of a Nuncio had come and gone; and now there was
a Brief pause, for the groom in waiting had informed the crowd in the
antechamber that the Princess could receive no more. Then there was
a hurried scrawling of great names in a large book, a shower of
visiting-cards, and all was over; the fine equipages of fine people
dashed off, and the courtyard of the hotel was empty.

The large clock on the mantelpiece struck three, and Madame de
Sabloukoff compared the time with her watch, and by a movement of
impatience showed a feeling of displeasure. She was not accustomed to
have her appointments lightly treated, and he for whom she had fixed
an hour was now thirty minutes behind his time. She had been known to
resent such unpunctuality, and she looked as though she might do so
again. "I remember the day when his grand-uncle descended from his
carriage to speak to me," muttered she; "and that same grand-uncle was
an emperor."

Perhaps the chance reflection of her image in the large glass before her
somewhat embittered the recollection, for her features flushed, and as
suddenly grew pale again. It may have been that her mind went rapidly
back to a period when her fascination was a despotism that even the
highest and the haughtiest obeyed. "Too true," said she, speaking to
herself, "time has dealt heavily with us all. But _they_ are no more
what they once were than am I. Their old compact of mutual assistance is
crumbling away under the pressure of new rivalries and new pretensions.
Kings and Kaisers will soon be like bygone beauties. I wonder will they
bear their altered fortune as heroically?" It is but just to say that
her tremulous accents and quivering lip bore little evidence of the
heroism she spoke of.

She rang the bell violently, and as the servant entered she said, but in
a voice of perfect unconcern,--

"When the Count von Wahnsdorf calls, you will tell him that I am
engaged, but will receive him to-morrow--"

"And why not to-day, charming Princess?" said a young man, entering
hastily, and whose graceful but somewhat haughty air set off to every
advantage his splendid Hungarian costume. "Why not now?" said he,
stooping to kiss her hand with respectful gallantry. She motioned to the
servant to withdraw, and they were alone.

"You are not over exact in keeping an appointment,