'mansarde' roofs of Ludwigsburg, and was reflected again and
again in the waters of the hundred garden fountains.

All day a hurrying stream of vehicles had rumbled into the courtyard,
setting down the servants and effects of his Highness of Wirtemberg, and
of the lady who ruled his destiny. Frisoni was in a mighty pother; he ran
round the room excitedly, moving a chair, smoothing out a fold in the
curtains, drawing a table to another position. He hopped hither and
thither like some gay little monkey. Suddenly a tremendous shout went up
from the three thousand Italian workmen who had been permitted to
assemble near the gilded gates to witness the arrival of the court.

First came a large detachment of the Silver Guard, which were to take up
quarters in the newly completed barracks at Ludwigsburg. Then followed a
company of Cadets a Cheval, two hundred youths of noble family attired in
crimson uniforms with black velvet slashings and silver braidings. After
these rode an hundred equerries to his Highness, uniformed in light blue
with silver facings. Then came a file of richly painted coaches conveying
the holders of court charges, each coach escorted by four mounted
troopers. Then the musicians on white horses with gorgeous red velvet and
gold trappings. A second detachment of the Silver Guard numbering about
five hundred, and at last the great gilded coach and six hove into sight.
On both sides rode Cadets a Cheval, their ordinary crimson and black
slashed uniforms embellished by short cloaks of silver cloth, which fell
from each youth's shoulders on to the horse's haunches. In the coach sat
his Highness on the left, and the Landhofmeisterin on the right, the seat
which custom, etiquette, and morality set apart for the Duchess, who,
poor soul, mourned in solitude at Stuttgart, while her place in the
pageant was taken by the beautiful, evil woman, Wilhelmine von Graevenitz.
But oh! how lovely she was, this adventuress! She looked indeed well
fitted to be the chief personage of this magnificence. Her garments, as
usual, were of golden yellow; on her flowing, powdered curls she wore a
little round hat with a waving white plume, fastened by a diamond clasp.
On her breast glittered the broad riband and the white enamel stag, whose
antlers bore the diamond cross of the order of St. Hubertus. The little
hat was strangely like a crown; the baton of the Landhofmeisterin's
office, which she held in her hand, resembled a sceptre: i