All at once a hush fell on the chattering crowd, and only a subdued whisper was heard here and there, as the moment for the Emperor's appearance had arrived. Ráby was not a little shocked to note how his imperial master had altered: camp life had apparently not suited him. His cheeks were hollowed as with sickness, and his features bore the unmistakable marks of the ravages of both bodily and mental suffering; only the clear blue eyes he remembered so well of old, were unchanged. Amid the crowd of suppliants, the Emperor seemed not to observe Ráby and his companions. At last Ráby ventured to press into his hand his report. "What is this?" asked the Kaiser in German, as he pocketed the document without looking at its contents. All those who had spoken with the Emperor had to withdraw directly the audience was over, and Ráby and his friends were at last the only ones left. The Emperor seeing that they still waited, demanded of Kurovics what it was they sought? Kurovics thereupon with a low bow, gave him to understand they were only accompanying the lady. "I have received her petition already," said Joseph, "what does the girl want?" "Does not your Majesty remember me?" asked Ráby in a low voice. The Emperor scanned him sharply with no sign of recognition. "I have never seen you before," he exclaimed coldly. "What is your name?" "Sire, I am Mathias Ráby!" His Majesty clasped his hands with a vivid gesture of surprise. "Ráby! is it possible? Have you lost your reason then that you dress thus? Whence do you come in this masquerading attire?" "From the dungeons of the Pesth Assembly House, Sire." The Emperor seized him by the hand, and drew him without a word into his cabinet. Two secretaries there were very busy sorting documents. The Emperor led the Serb peasant girl up to them. "Now, gentlemen, say, do you recognise this lady?" The secretaries were perplexed, and denied all knowledge of the new-comer. "Come, come, gentlemen," said the Emperor jestingly, "tell the truth, for I'll wager that you have often met before, to say nothing of the lively correspondence you have carried on of late." The secretaries called heaven and earth to witness they had never seen the stranger in their lives before, and had not the slightest idea who she might be. "This lady is no other than Mr. Mathias Ráby." At these words, in defiance of all court etiquette, both burst out laughing, and in their merriment the Emperor himself joined heartily. Only Ráby looked grave, and did not share their amusement. Even now through the paint on his cheeks, the angry colour flamed--a fact which did not escape the Emperor. "But however did you manage to put on this disguise?" he asked. "Simply because I heard your Majesty had ordered I should do so," answered Ráby. "I? Why whatever put such a thing into your head, I should like to know?" "Here are the instructions I received," and Ráby handed him his friends' paper.