d, and he manages the house to leave the master all his time to go
on inventing and entertaining the grand folks we have to dinner."

"Mr. Daniels! not the old Jew who played that queer straight trumpet at
Munich--"

"Yes, the turkophone! Ah, he has no need to go about the music halls
now--he is, if not rich, the man who leads rich men by the nose, to come
and deposit their superfluous cash in our strong-box."

And she pointed fondly to a large iron-clamped coffin which occupied the
space between two of the windows. It was a novelty, for Cesarine did not
recollect seeing it before. Continuing her survey, it seemed to her
that she noticed a different arrangement of the ornaments than when she
was queen here, and that the fresh flowers in the vases and two
palmettoes in urns were placed with a taste the German maid had never
shown.

"Let me see! this Jewish Orpheus had a daughter--"

"Exactly; she never leaves him. She has rooms within his just the same
as at our house in Munich. It appears that Jew parents trust their
pretty daughters no farther than they can see them. But I do not blame
M. Daniels," went on Hedwig, enthusiastically, "she is so lovely!"

Cesarine rose partly, supporting herself with her hands on the arms of
the chair. Her eyes flashed like blue steel and her whole frame vibrated
with kindled rage.

"Do you mean to tell me, girl, that Mademoiselle Rebecca--as her name
went, I think--is now the mistress of my house?"

"In your absence," returned Hedwig, drawlingly, "somebody had to
preside, for neither the master, the old gentleman nor M. Antonino take
the head of the dinner-table with the best grace. It is true that our
guests are not very particular if the wine flows freely. I do not think
the young lady likes the position, for I know the old, be-spectacled
professors are as pestering with their attentions as the insolent
officers. She would have been so delighted at the relief promised by
your return that she would run to meet you and you would not have been
repulsed at the door."

"I daresay," replied Madame Clemenceau, frowning, and tapping the waxed
wood floor impatiently with her foot. "I did not care to announce my
return home with a flourish of trumpets. I was not averse to taking the
house by surprise, and seeing what a transformation has gone on since I
went away. Besides, it is desirable, not to say necessary, that I should
speak with you before seeing the others."

Hedwig pouted a