er coming.

"Look, here you are, my princess of the fairies," said he, smiling. "What
is there now on hand, and what playful scheme are you revolving in your
mind to-day?"

But the countenance of the Princess exhibited no signs of playfulness. It
was pale, and her whole being seemed under the influence of violent
excitement.

"Frederick," she said hurriedly, "I have a dreadful secret to confide to
you. Our sister Louise loves Count Adolphus Schwarzenberg."

"I thought as much," murmured the Prince.

"I have known it for a long while," continued the Princess, "but I took no
notice of it, hoping that absence and separation would make her forget
him. But since his return I have had no more hope. Last night, in her
distress, she betrayed all to me, and I must tell you something dreadful,
something shocking. You must reveal it to nobody--not another one must
know it. Do you promise me that?"

"I promise, Hedwig. But tell me what it is."

She bent over close to his ear and whispered:

"She has granted him a rendezvous."

"Impossible, sister, you are mistaken!"

"No, no, Frederick, I am not mistaken. I heard her myself when she told
him so. It was in Count Schwarzenberg's hothouse; I came behind her with
the ladies, and she thought I was paying no attention whatever to her and
all that she was saying to Count Adolphus. But I managed to watch her
constantly without attracting the attention of the ladies I was with. My
eyes and ears are very sharp, and I saw her press a note into his hand,
and heard her repeat to him the contents of the note, appointing an
interview with him this evening at ten o'clock. Old Trude is to wait for
him at the back side door of the castle next to the cathedral, and she is
to conduct him to her. You must not suffer it, Frederick William; that bad
Count Schwarzenberg shall not carry off my sister."

"No, that he shall not," said the Prince. "I thank you, sister, for coming
to me. We two shall save her--we two alone, and nobody shall know anything
about it. Even she herself must not find out that we know her secret. We
must be brisk and determined, though, for it is late, only wanting a half
hour of being ten o'clock. Who is old Trude?"

"Louise's chambermaid, who has been with her all her life, for Trude was
her nurse. She idolizes our sister, and would go through fire and water
for her sake. What Louise commands is law with her."

"Then we must prevent old Trude, by force or cunning, fr