things, like a bazar in the Arabian Nights, or
the enchanted cave of Xaxa, while I moved through the throng on the
loveliest of summer days with a treasure in my pocket such as I had
never before possessed, and for which I was accountable to no one--the
thought suddenly darted through my mind: 'for once in your life see how
rich, aristocratic people feel, whose left hands do not know how much
their right hands throw out of the window. Live for once in plenty,
deny yourself nothing, show the stupid money that has accidentally
wandered into your pocket and for which you care so little, how you
despise it, though you are only a poor girl and must earn your bread!
If you were very avaricious and put your five or six hundred thalers in
a savings bank, the paltry interest you would receive would not make
you happy. When all has gone as lightly as it came, it will still be
possible to creep back into the yoke. Then you will at least have
experienced how happier mortals feel perhaps'--and I spoke as if some
of my mother's nature stirred within me--'perhaps you will fare like
the apprentices in a confectioners shop: become surfeited with luxury,
and afterwards be satisfied to return to narrow, commonplace
surroundings.' Well I had now decided that I would for once be Duchess
Toinette in earnest. But as I was a perfect stranger, and did not know
a single human being:--who knows whether I might not have lost the
courage to execute my plan. A little country girl cannot change herself
into a great lady in the twinkling of an eye, even if she has five
hundred thalers to use for the purpose. But chance came to my
assistance. I had traveled to Berlin in a first-class carriage. I had
long desired to try one, and while making our short excursions about
the neighborhood always felt secretly ashamed and irritated because we
were compelled to use a third-class conveyance. Now I could gratify my
desire, and was very comfortable in my plush armchair, until a
gentleman, who occupied the coupe with me, commenced a conversation
which threatened to become a little dangerous. He was a very elegant,
aristocratic young man, whose servant came to the carriage at every
station to ask his masters' orders.

"I made such short answers to his gallant speeches, that he probably
perceived he must adopt a different tone with me. From that moment he
was courtesy and attention itself, and treated me as a high-born dame,
though I did not conceal the object of