“And would they not?” cried Nina, passionately “Has not the brow nobler and higher thoughts when encircled by a coronet like this? Does not the heart beat with greater transport beneath gems like these?” And she opened case after case of sparkling jewels as she spoke, and spread them before Kate, on the table. “And yet I have learned to look on them calmly,” said Kate, with an expression of proud indifference. “Does not that dazzle you?” said Nina, holding up a cross of rose diamonds. “No!” said Kate, shaking her head. “Nor that?” cried Nina, displaying a gorgeous necklace. “Nor even that, Nina.” “Is Madame's heart so steeled against womanly vanities,” said Nina, quickly, while she threw masses of costly articles before her, “that not one throb, not one flush of pleasure, is called up at sight of these?” “You see, Nina, that I can look on them calmly.” “Then this, perchance, may move you!” cried Nina; and with a bound she sprang to the table at which Kate was seated, and, dashing the handkerchief away, seized the miniature, and held it up. Kate uttered a shrill cry and fell back fainting. Nina gazed at her for a second or so with a look of haughty disdain, and sprinkling the pale features with a few drops of water, she turned away. With calm composure she replaced each precious gem within its case, laid the miniature once more beneath the handkerchief, and then left the room. “Your Princess will not honor us, it seems, with her company,” said the Archduke, half in pique, as the messenger returned with Kate's excuses; “and yet I looked for her coming to get rid of all the farrago of politics that you wise folk will insist upon talking.” The Countess and the Minister exchanged most significant glances at this speech, while D'Esmonde politely assented to the remark, by adding something about the relaxation necessary to overwrought minds, and the need that princes should enjoy some repose as well as those of lower degree. “I can, however, assure your Imperial Highness,” said he, “that this is no caprice of the young Princess. She is really far from well, and was even unable to receive her own relative this afternoon, the Count von Dalton.” “What, is old Auersberg a relative of hers?” “An uncle, or a grand-uncle,--I forget which, sir.” “Then that wild youth in the Franz Carl must be a connection too?” “The cadet is her brother, sir.” “Indeed! What an extravagant fellow it is! They say that, counting on being Auersberg's heir, he spends money in every possible fashion; and as the tradespeople take the succession on trust, his debts are already considerable. It was only yesterday his colonel spoke to me of sending him to the Banat, or some such place. His family must be rich, I suppose?” “I believe quite the reverse, sir. Poor to indigence. Their entire hope is on the Count von Auersberg.” “He held a frontier command for many years, and must have saved money. But will he like to see it in hands like these?”