"Oh! they fear the loss of something which, without offense, I may say, they esteem more highly than you." Hedwig answered without even a little impertinence and the other did not resent what sounded discourteous. "Then they do not lock up to keep me out?" she questioned. "It might be a little bit that way, too." "It is a new habit. Did the master suggest it?" "Not the master altogether, madame, but his partner." "Eh! do you mean Antonino? Monsieur had already lifted him up to be his associate, his confidant, his friend, to the exclusion of his lawful friend and confidant, his wife--and now, does he make him his partner?" "No, madame; though he has a good fat share in the enterprise. It is M. Daniels who found the funds for the new company in which the master is engaged, and he manages the house to leave the master all his time to go on inventing and entertaining the grand folks we have to dinner." "Mr. Daniels! not the old Jew who played that queer straight trumpet at Munich--" "Yes, the turkophone! Ah, he has no need to go about the music halls now--he is, if not rich, the man who leads rich men by the nose, to come and deposit their superfluous cash in our strong-box." And she pointed fondly to a large iron-clamped coffin which occupied the space between two of the windows. It was a novelty, for Césarine did not recollect seeing it before. Continuing her survey, it seemed to her that she noticed a different arrangement of the ornaments than when she was queen here, and that the fresh flowers in the vases and two palmettoes in urns were placed with a taste the German maid had never shown. "Let me see! this Jewish Orpheus had a daughter--" "Exactly; she never leaves him. She has rooms within his just the same as at our house in Munich. It appears that Jew parents trust their pretty daughters no farther than they can see them. But I do not blame M. Daniels," went on Hedwig, enthusiastically, "she is so lovely!" Césarine rose partly, supporting herself with her hands on the arms of the chair. Her eyes flashed like blue steel and her whole frame vibrated with kindled rage. "Do you mean to tell me, girl, that Mademoiselle Rebecca--as her name went, I think--is now the mistress of my house?" "In your absence," returned Hedwig, drawlingly, "somebody had to preside, for neither the master, the old gentleman nor M. Antonino take the head of the dinner-table with the best grace. It is true that our guests are not very particular if the wine flows freely. I do not think the young lady likes the position, for I know the old, be-spectacled professors are as pestering with their attentions as the insolent officers. She would have been so delighted at the relief promised by your return that she would run to meet you and you would not have been repulsed at the door."