"'Are you the Chevalier Mandeville?' asked she. "'Yes, my little dear, and pray who are you?' "'I am Fritchen, sir,' she said with a curtsy. "'You don't say so! Pray sit down, Fritchen.' "'Thank you, sir.' "'And pray now, Fritchen, what is it you want with me?' "'My mistress desired me to say to you, sir--but it's a great secret--that she is to be at the masquerade to-night in a blue domino, and she begs you will place this White Rose in your hat, and she wishes to have a few words with you.' "'And who may your mistress be, my pretty one?' "'Silence and Fidelity!' "'Ha! is it possible? the Margravine!' "'Hush! don't speak so loud--you don't know who may be listening. Black Stanislaus has been watching me all day, and I hardly could contrive to get out.' "'Black Stanislaus had better beware of me!' "'Oh, but you don't know him! He's Duke Albrecht's chief forester, and the Duke is in _such_ a rage ever since he found my lady embroidering your name upon a handkerchief.' "'Did she, indeed?--my name?--O Amalia!' "'Yes--and she says you're so like that big picture at Schloss-Swiggenstein that she fell in love with long ago--and she is sure you would come to love her if you only knew her--and she wishes, for your sake, that she was a plain lady and not a Princess--and she hates that Duke Albrecht so! But I wasn't to tell you a word of this, so pray don't repeat it again.' "'Silence and fidelity, my pretty Fritchen. Tell your royal mistress that I rest her humble slave and kinsman; that I will wear her rose, and defend it too, if needful, against the attacks of the universe! Tell her, too, that every moment seems an age until we meet again. I will not overload your memory, little Fritchen. Pray, wear this trifle for my sake, and----' "'O fie, sir! If the waiter heard you!' and the little gipsy made her escape. "I had selected for my costume that night, a dress in the old English fashion, taken from a portrait of the Admirable Crichton. In my hat I reverently placed the rose which Amalia had sent me, stepped into my fiacre, and drove to the palace. "The masquerade was already at its height. I jostled my way through a prodigious crowd of scaramouches, pilgrims, shepherdesses, nymphs, and crusaders, until I reached the grand saloon, where I looked round me diligently for the blue domino! Alas! I counted no less than thirteen ladies in that particular costume. "'You seem dull to-night, Sir Englishman,' said a soft voice at my elbow. 'Does the indifference of your country or the disdainfulness of dark eyes oppress you?' "I turned and beheld a blue domino. My heart thrilled strangely. "'Neither, sweet Mask; but say, is not Silence a token of Fidelity?' "'You speak in riddles,' said the domino. 'But come--they are beginning the waltz. Here is a little hand as yet unoccupied. Will you take it?' "'For ever?' "'Nay--I shall burden you with no such terrible conditions. _Allons!_ Yonder Saracen and Nun have set us the example.'