weeks there last year, and liked it," said
Midchekoff, languidly.

"Really, Prince, if I don't know how to accept, I am still more at a
loss for power to refuse your offer."

"When will you go?" said he, dryly, and taking out his memorandum-book
to write.

"What says Mr. Jekyl?" said Lady Hester, turning to that bland
personage, who, without apparently attending to what went forward, had
heard every syllable of it.

"This is Tuesday," said Jekyl. "There 's not much to be done; the villa
wants for nothing: I know it perfectly."

"Ah, it's comfortable, then?" said the Prince, with a slight degree of
animation.

"La Rocca is all that Contarete's taste could make it," replied Jekyl.

"Poor Contarete! he was an excellent maitre d'hotel," said Midchekoff.
"He's still with me, somewhere; I rather believe in Tartary, just now."

"Your Ladyship may leave this on Thursday," said Jekyl, who well knew
that he was paying the most flattering compliment to Midchekoff in
naming the shortest possible time for preparation.

"Will this be inconvenient, Prince?" asked Lady Hester.

"No; not in the least. If Jekyl will precede you by a couple of hours, I
trust all will be ready."

"With your permission, then, we will say Thursday," said she, who, with
her habitual delight in novelty, was already wild with pleasure at the
whole scheme.

"Perhaps I'll come and visit you," said Midchekoff. "I shall have to go
to Vienna soon."

Lady Hester bowed and smiled her acknowledgments for this not
over-gracious speech.

"May we follow you, too, Lady Hester?" asked the Sicilian.

"We expect that much from your loyalty, gentlemen. Our exile will test
your fidelity."

"There 's something or other inconvenient about the stables," said
Midchekoff, "but I forget what it is; they are up a mountain, or down
in a valley. I don't remember it, but the Emperor said it was wrong, and
should be changed."

"They are on the opposite side of the lake, Prince," interposed Jekyl,
"and you must cross over to your carriage by boat."

"Oh, delightful, quite delightful!" exclaimed Lady Hester, with childish
joy, at the novelty.

"La Rocca is on a little promontory," said Jekyl, "only approachable
from the water, for the mountain is quite inaccessible."

"You shall have a road made, if you wish it," said the Prince,
languidly.

"On no account. I would n't for the world destroy the isolation of the
spot."

"Do you happen to remember, Mr. Jekyl, if