"Tell me not of your plans, knave!" answered the Count. "I require no suggestion but must have execution, and you shall then have the reward I promised. But say, when do you expect to succeed with this most notable plan you talk of? The girl is not to be entrapped so easily as you anticipate." "By to-morrow at furthest, or perchance this very day, if my messenger can find the girl, though he may have some difficulty in falling in with her; but you may have changed your mind, Sir. Is it still your pleasure that she come here?" "Yes, knave; and mark me, if you fail and disappoint me, you shall suffer!" said the Count. "Now, tell me quickly, how you hope to succeed; let me hear all you have to say." "In the first place, fortune has favoured us, Sir," said Groff, "for while I was out concerning the affairs you sent me on, it appears that two Gipsy boys were singing and playing in front of the palace, to the idle porters and other servants, when a drosky, driven furiously by, knocked one of them down, and left him senseless on the ground. I know not how it was, but Kruntz and some of the other men, were seized with a fit of humanity, and brought the wounded boy within the palace, and when his companion was crying over him, some of them bathed his bruises and hurts. I arrived at that time, having just encountered the damsel of the same race where I told you. A thought struck me, that I might turn the accident to some account. I found that the boys did not know in whose palace they were; and after some talk with the one who was not wounded, I contrived to learn that he belonged to the same tribe as the girl you are in search of. I accordingly hinted to the boy, where she was likely to be found, and persuaded him to set off, in order to bring her to his brother, as she was better able to cure him than any doctor. I told him, therefore, that this was the palace of the Prince Raziminski, into which she will not fear to enter; and having directed him to mark it well so as not to forget it, sent him off to bring her here immediately. Have I done well, Sir?" "I have no great expectation, that your ill-contrived scheme will succeed," answered the Count, stiffly; "I know she will not come! What else have you to communicate?" "Somewhat with respect to the son of the Baron Galetzoff. I think Sir, you may soon have your revenge on him." "Ah!" exclaimed the Count, looking deeply interested, "what of that youth? could I wreak my vengeance on him, and win the girl into the bargain, I should be contented. What have you to say of him?"