"'That may be, sire,' repeated the Margravine with another blush. 'But my great-grandmother was nevertheless a Mandeville, the daughter of that Field-marshal Herbert who fought so well at Lutzen. His picture, painted when he was a young cuirassier, still hangs in my palace, and, indeed, it was the extreme likeness of the chevalier to that portrait, which took me for a moment by surprise. Let me then welcome you, cousin; henceforward we are not strangers!' "I bowed profoundly as I took the proffered hand of the Margravine. I held it for an instant in my own--yes!--by Cupid, there _was_ a gentle pressure. I looked up and beheld the dark countenance of the Duke of Kalbs-Braten scowling at me from behind his cousin. I retorted the look with interest. From that moment we were mortal foes. "'_Unser Ritter ist im klee gefallen_--the chevalier has fallen among clover,' said the Emperor with a smile--'he has great luck--he finds cousins everywhere.' "'And in this instance,' I replied, 'I might venture to challenge the envy even of your Majesty.' "'Well said, chevalier! and now let us attend to the second act of the opera.' "'You are in a critical position, Chevalier de Mandeville,' said the Lucchesini, to whose side I now returned. 'You have made a powerful friend, but also a dangerous enemy. Beware of that Duke Albrecht--he is watching you closely.' "'It is not the nature of a Mandeville to fear anything except for the safety of those he loves. _You_, sweet Duchessa, I trust have nothing to apprehend?' "'_Ah, perfide!_ Do not think to impose upon me longer. I know your heart has become a traitor already. Well--we shall not be less friends for that. I congratulate you on your new honours, only take care that too much good fortune does not turn that magnificent head.' "I supped that evening with the Lucchesini. On my return home, I thought I observed a dark figure following my steps; but this might have been fancy, at all events I regained my hotel without any interruption. Next morning I found upon my table a little casket containing a magnificent emerald ring, along with a small slip of paper on which was written, '_Amalia to her cousin--Silence and Fidelity._' I placed the ring upon my finger, but I pressed the writing to my lips. "On the ensuing week there was a great masquerade at the palace. I was out surveying the whole morning, and was occupied so late that I had barely half an hour to spare on my return for the necessary preparations. "'There is a young lady waiting for you upstairs, Herr Baron,' said the waiter with a broad grin; 'she says she has a message to deliver, and will give it to nobody else.' "'Blockhead!' said I, 'what made you show her in there? To a certainty she'll be meddling with the theodolites!' "I rushed upstairs, and found in my apartment one of the prettiest little creatures I ever saw, a perfect fairy of about sixteen, in a gipsy bonnet, who looked up and smiled as I entered.