ay that the youth claims an
English nationality. The cabinet of Vienna are, perhaps, like-minded in
the matter; at all events, he is free, and will be here to-morrow."

"Then I shall invite him to dinner, and beg both of you gentlemen to
meet him," said she, with a voice wherein a tone of malicious drollery
mingled.

"I am your servant, madam," said Stubber.

"And I am engaged," said Wahnsdorf, taking up his shako.

"You are off to Vienna to-night, Count Wahnsdorf," whispered the
Princess-in his ear.

"What do you mean, madam?" said he, in a tone equally low.

"Only that I have a letter written for the Archduchess Sophia, which I
desire to intrust to your hands. You may as well read ere I seal it."

The Count took the letter from her hand, and retired towards the window
to read it. While she conversed eagerly with Stubber, she did not fail
from time to time to glance towards the other, and mark the expression
of his features as he folded and replaced the letter in its envelope,
and, slowly approaching her, said,--

"You are most discreet, madam."

"I hope I am just, sir," said she, modestly.

"This was something of a difficult undertaking, too," said he, with an
equivocal smile.

"It was certainly a pleasant and proud one, sir, as it always must be,
to write to a mother in commendation of her son. By the way, Chevalier,
you have forgotten to make your compliments to the Count on his
promotion--"

"I have not heard of it, madam; what may it be?" asked Stubber.

"To the command of the Pahlen Hussars, sir,--one of the proudest
'charges' of the Empire."

A rush of blood to Wahnsdorf's face was as quickly followed by a deadly
pallor, and with a broken, faint utterance he said, "Good-bye," and left
the room.

"A fine young fellow,--the very picture of a soldier," exclaimed
Stubber, looking after him.

"A chevalier of the olden time, sir,--the very soul of honor," said the
Princess, enthusiastically. "And now for a little gossip with yourself."

It is not "in our brief" to record what passed in that chatty interview;
plenty of state secrets and state gossip there was,--abundance of that
dangerous trifling which mixes up the passions of society with the great
game of politics, and makes statecraft feel the impress of men's
whims and caprices. We were just beginning that era, "the policy of
resentments," which has since pervaded Europe, and the Chevalier and
the Princess were sufficiently behind the scenes