een the famous Graevenitzin.

'Pockmarked, and as tall as a grenadier,' said a spiteful voice--a
woman's.

'She sings divinely,' said another voice.

'Her notes are very strong, if you mean that! She nearly breaks your
ears,' replied the same voice.

Now the musicians struck up a stately measure, and two pages, of the
Sittmann family, of course, appeared in the doorway walking backwards.
Hofmarshall Graevenitz thundered with his baton upon the ground; it must
be conceded he seemed to take fondly to the exercise of his new duties.
And now Eberhard Ludwig was seen in the doorway. His Highness wore a
magnificent costume of white brocade, relieved only by the broad ribands
of several high orders, and on his breast the chain of Austria's Golden
Fleece. Of a truth, Serenissimus looked a fine Prince, but all eyes were
upon the tall figure beside him--the Mecklemburg Fraeulein, the Countess
of Urach. Her underskirt was made of cloth of gold, rich and heavy; her
huge paniers were of embroidered satin of the Graevenitz yellow, as it
came to be called in after years; her corsage was yellow also, and from
her shoulders fell the white brocade cloak lined and trimmed with ermine,
which she had worn on the day of her secret marriage at the Neuhaus. Her
breast was literally ablaze with jewels, and the pearls of Wirtemberg,
which two hundred years before the Mantuan princess had brought as
marriage dowry, hung in ropes round the favourite's neck. So splendid a
vision had never met the eyes of the assembled company. The Duchess
Johanna Elizabetha had worn these jewels, but they had somehow seemed to
disappear in the awkward masses of her ill-chosen garments. You may
imagine, however, that her Highness had given the gems unwillingly to
Eberhard Ludwig's messenger charged to bring them forthwith to Urach.

Wilhelmine advanced slowly, led by his Highness. She bowed gravely to
right and left. The guests were astounded, struck dumb by the huge
presumption of the woman; some few returned her salute, others,
bewildered and indignant, stared her blankly in the face. Serenissimus
led her to the dais, and as she took her seat bowed profoundly over her
hand. The pages gathered round the steps of the dais. Madame de Ruth took
up her position beside this pseudo-Duchess's chair. Oberhofmarshall
Graevenitz stood to the Duke's right, the Sittmann family ranged
themselves in a circle near this mock throne. Schuetz, the fraudulent
attorney, mighty fi