ortable
theories of polygamy, Leopold Eberhard was destined to succeed his father
in the family honours, and achieve a course of Persian living which,
while practised frequently under other names at many courts, astounded
Germany by this legalised manner of illegality.

One lady was already the wife of Leopold Eberhard. She was the daughter
of a baker, and had held the post of housemaid at the small court of Oels
in Silesia. Having succeeded in espousing a gentleman of the name of
Zedlitz, she turned her attention to the eighteen-year-old Erbprinz of
Moempelgard; and her husband, Herr von Zedlitz, not approving of this new
relationship, she divorced him and married Leopold. At first this
undistinguished alliance displeased the old Duke of Moempelgard, and he
endeavoured to disinherit Leopold Eberhard; but when the ex-housemaid
bore a fine son, the grandfather relented, and the couple took residence
at Moempelgard, the lady being created by the Emperor Countess of Sponeck.

Now, in Moempelgard resided an aged captain of the Imperial army, one
Richard Curie, a tailor by trade, who, having enlisted in the army and
risen to the rank of captain, changed his uneuphonious name to Monsieur
l'Esperance, married a Moempelgard butcher's daughter, and settled in her
native town. Four fine daughters were born of this marriage. Leopold
Eberhard cast his eyes upon these beautiful girls and remembered his
Mahometan principles. At this juncture, Duke George conveniently died,
and Leopold Eberhard became Duke. Immediately all four damsels
l'Esperance were appointed ladies' companions to the Countess of Sponeck.
The eldest, Sebastiane, was the first object of Leopold's affection, but
the Countess Sponeck suspected the intrigue and remonstrated with her
spouse. To divert her jealousy from Sebastiane the Duke paid sham court
to the youngest sister, Polyrene, but the playacting turned reality, and
ended in serious passion. However, this episode with the second of the
l'Esperances soon came to an end, for Polyrene fell dead during a gavotte
at court. Great mourning, and Leopold sought consolation with another
sister l'Esperance, Henriette Hedwig, wife of a lieutenant in the
Moempelgard guards, Herr von Sandersleben. This gentleman objected,
divorced Henriette Hedwig, and left the Duke's service.

The Countess of Sponeck and the two sisters Esperance resided under one
roof. We are told that it was hell on earth: they fought, they scratched,