He waited a
moment for her to speak, then slowly repeated his announcement.

'Where am I to go to?' she said at last in a low, uncertain voice.

'Where it pleases your Excellency. Anywhere out of Wirtemberg.'

She turned to Maria who stood behind her. 'Have I a house anywhere? I
have forgotten,' she said.

'Surely, surely, Excellency; your castle at Schaffhausen,' replied the
peasant woman.

'Very well; we will start to-morrow for Schaffhausen,' the Graevenitz
answered in her new, broken, docile voice.

'There is a letter for you, Madame,' the governor told her.

'A letter? Who should write to me? The dead do not write.'

'O Madame! Madame! read it; there may be good news,' cried Maria.

'Good news? Good news for me? There can be none. Do you not know that
there can be none?' she said tonelessly.

Even the governor's eyes were wet as he handed her the letter. She broke
the seal listlessly.

'I send you the best terms I can make for you, in remembrance of the
Judengasse of Stuttgart, and in gratitude for your kindness to my
race.--JOSEPH SUeSS OPPENHEIMER.'

* * * * *

Fastened in one corner of this short missive glittered a little jewel.
The Graevenitz looked long at it, not comprehending. Then a scene of her
past came back to her--she was in a darkened room, which smelt of
strange, sweet essences, and a Jewish boy sang a Hebrew love-song.

Joseph Suess Oppenheimer, the Jew, had proved himself, in this instance,
to be truly what Eberhard Ludwig had called him in pleasantry many years
ago--'un preux chevalier.' One who could render homage and service to a
fallen favourite.

FOOTNOTES:

[2] Joseph Suess Oppenheimer was the son of Michaele, a famous Jewish
beauty, daughter of Rabbi Salomon of Frankfort, a musician of talent.
Michaele was not only possessed of wonderful beauty, but God had blessed
her with a glorious voice. She married Rabbi Isaschar Suesskind
Oppenheimer, also a singer and musician, and together the couple wandered
from city to city, and from palace to castle, discoursing sweet melodies.
The lady's morals suffered from this vagrant life, and the Jewish
community of Frankfort stood aghast at her amours. Jewish women are
usually remarkably virtuous, and Michaele's evil reputation was easily
achieved.

There was an ugly story concerning the birth of Joseph Suess. In brief, he
was reported to be a love-child; but the dates do not tally, and it is
certain th