ea of trouble for the sake
of some nameless bastard, while in doing so I compromise myself and my
own honor?"

"Do you prefer that it should be done by another, Count Wahnsdorf?"
asked she.

"This is a threat, madam."

"All the speedier will the matter be settled if you understand it as
such."

"And, of course, the next condition will be for me to resign my
pretensions to Ida in his favor," said he, with a savage irony.

"I stipulate for nothing of the sort; Count Wahnsdorf's pretensions will
be to-morrow just where they are to-day."

"You hold them cheaply, madam. I am indeed unfortunate in all my pursuit
of your esteem."

"You live in a sphere to command it, sir," was her reply, given with a
counterfeited humility; and whether it was the tone of mingled insolence
and submission she assumed, or simply the sense of his own unworthiness
in her sight, but Wahnsdorf cowered before her like a frightened child.
At this moment the servant entered, and presented a visiting-card to the
Princess.

"Ah, he comes in an opportune moment," cried she. "This is the Minister
of the Duke of Massa's household,--the Chevalier Stubber. Yes,"
continued she to the servant, "I will receive him."

If there was not any conspicuous gracefulness in the Chevalier's
approach, there was an air of quiet self-possession that bespoke a sense
of his own worth and importance; and while he turned to pay his respects
to the young Count, his unpolished manner was not devoid of a certain
dignity.

"It is a fortunate chance by which I find you here, Count Wahnsdorf,"
said he, "for you will be glad to learn that the young fellow you had
that affair with at Massa has just been liberated."

"When, and how?" cried the Princess, hastily.

"As to the time, it must be about four days ago, as my letters inform
me; as to the how, I fancy the Count can best inform you,--he has
interested himself greatly in the matter." The Count blushed deeply,
and turned away to hide his face, but not so quickly as to miss the
expression of scornful meaning with which the Princess regarded him.

"But I want to hear the details, Chevalier," said she.

"And I can give you none, madam. My despatches simply mention that the
act of arrest was discovered in some way to be informal. Sir Horace
Upton proved so much. There then arose a question of giving him up to
us; but my master declined the honor,--he would have no trouble, he
said, with England or Englishmen; and some s