masked beneath the outstretched hand of one of the
many plaster Amorini. Here again a small door sprang open beneath her
touch, and she entered the Duke's sitting-room. Her entry, however, was
further hidden by an arras of Gobelin tapestry fitted on a wooden
partition running down one side of his Highness's room. At the end
nearest the entrance to his sleeping-chamber, a small portion of this
partition flew back upon touching a spring, and revealed a narrow
doorway. Little wonder that both Eberhard Ludwig and Wilhelmine smiled
when the Italian conducted them down and up the staircases and through
innumerable rooms ere they reached the apartments of the
Landhofmeisterin!

Serenissimus was standing at the window of his writing-room overlooking
the courtyard. In his hand was a closely written page, and his face wore
a look of distress and perplexity. He turned sharply when he heard
Wilhelmine's step, and, flushing deeply, he crushed the paper into the
breast of his coat. She was quick to note the movement, and the Duke's
evident embarrassment.

'A letter, Monseigneur, which you would hide from me?' she said. Like
most women in illegitimate positions she was easily suspicious, and all
letters, petitions, every scrap of paper destined for her lover, were
carried for inspection to the omnipotent Landhofmeisterin ere they were
permitted to reach their destination.

'Yes, Madame, a letter from a private friend,' returned the Duke, his
embarrassment turning to anger.

'Ah! something not intended for me? I crave your Highness's forgiveness.
I came to say a word of my great happiness in being indeed installed in
our House of Harmony,' she sneered bitterly, and turning, would have
hurried back to her apartments; but Serenissimus followed her, and laying
his hand on her arm drew her towards him.

'There are things in each life which can never be told. Beloved, there is
a seal on my lips which honour has impressed with her fair image. I
cannot tell you what is in this letter. Believe me, it is no pleasant
thing that I hide from you; it would not make you happy to read these
lines. Also, they are unimportant, for I do not heed them.'

She prayed him to tell her. How could she rest if she knew he had a
thought apart from her? It gave her anxiety, she said, that it was
something disagreeable. She used all her arts of attraction, of
seduction, but he remained obdurate. Then she flamed into anger and left
him with a bitter word.