"Monsieur le Comte de Juff," said the Queen in a little tinkling voice, "I am very happy to meet you. I congratulate you upon your travels. I am especially interested in the natives of Africa. We had a negro village here a few years ago ... hadn't we, M. von Kampfen?" "Quite true, your Majesty," replied the Chamberlain, bowing deeply. The Queen turned again to Juve: "I congratulate you, Monsieur, and I beg you to persevere in the work to which your special aptitude calls you." The interview was at an end, and Juve was left wondering whether he should leave the room. The Chamberlain signed to him to retire behind the throne, where he found the amiable Mme. Heberlauf. Juve, now standing quite close to the Queen, was enabled to overhear the next interview; with an old professor this time--Professor Muller. The Queen said: "I am very happy to meet you. I congratulate you upon your pupils. I am especially interested in scholars." Then turning to the Chamberlain: "We have some very excellent schools here, have we not, Monsieur Kampfen?" "Quite true, your Majesty." "I congratulate you. Can I beg you to persevere in the work to which your special aptitude calls you?" It was all Juve could do to keep from bursting into laughter. The same speech was being made to a couple of young girls who were making their debut at the Court, when the circle round the Queen noticed that she was growing uneasy and preoccupied. Finally she turned to her first maid of honor, and cried in a sharp tone: "Really, Madame, it is extraordinary that the electric lights should have been turned on while it is still daylight!... Kindly see that they are extinguished." The first maid of honor, very embarrassed, passed along the order to the second maid of honor, who in turn hunted up the lady of the household, who relaid the message to the captain of the guard, and while he went in search of the proper subordinate, the attention of the Court was distracted by the entrance of an individual to whom everybody paid the greatest deference. The Chamberlain announced: "His Highness, Prince Gudulfin!" The Prince was a distinguished looking young man of twenty-five, clean-shaven and dressed with extreme care and richness of attire. He presented a great contrast to his cousin, the Queen of Hesse-Weimar, and as he approached the throne, his head high and a sarcastic smile on his lips, Hedwige seemed to shrink into her armchair, unable to meet the look in his eyes. The suppressed hatred of the reigning dynasty for the younger branch was of ancient date and a matter of common knowledge. The recent and prolonged absence of Frederick-Christian had given Prince Gudulfin the opportunity by which he had profited to advance his claims and conspire for the overthrow of the Government, with himself as the King of Hesse-Weimar.