ountry on her journey to Berlin, but some remnant of hatred
might linger in the peasants' memory.

When she reached the inn the innkeeper looked hard at his guest. Did he
recognise her? she wondered.

'Is this Ludwigsburg?' she asked, feigning ignorance.

'Yes, lady. Whom have I the honour of serving?'

She gave some name at random, adding: 'I am travelling from Austria and
Switzerland home to Berlin.' Then she inquired concerning the palace.
Could a stranger visit the gardens? Did the reigning prince reside in
that beautiful palace? and so on, questioning like an inquisitive
traveller.

If she wished she could see the whole place, she was told. The new
gatekeeper was a very friendly fellow; he would let her into the gardens
if she gave him a trifle to purchase a drink of wine. She ordered a meal
and pretended to eat, though the food choked her, but she dared not show
undue eagerness to visit the palace. At length the dreary subterfuges
were over; she had intimated her intention of passing the night at the
inn; she had been shown the guest-chamber; she had pretended to rest, and
now she was free to repair to her sorry sight-seeing without incurring
suspicion.

Evening fell over Ludwigsburg, yet the rounded roofs of the palace were
still kissed by the departing sunshine, when she walked up to the gateway
through which she had so often driven in ceremonious state surrounded by
the splendid Silver Guard. A squat-figured, broad-faced Wirtemberger
stood in the gateway, smoking a huge carved wood pipe of rank tobacco.
The blue smoke rose in spirals from the pipe bowl, and the man blew
clouds of a browner hue, the delicate blue-grey of the smoke spoiled from
the admixture of human breath.

The man watched the Graevenitz's approach without offering greeting or
comment.

'Are you the gatekeeper?' she asked.

'Yes, that I am,' he grunted ungraciously. Good Heavens! how she would
have had him flogged if he had spoken to her thus twelve years ago! She
looked at him steadily.

'I am a stranger, and would fain visit this famous palace,' she said.

'Have you an order from the court? I cannot let strangers enter without
one,' he returned gruffly.

'No, I have no order. Will you let me see the gardens, at least?' He
shook his head and continued smoking.

'See, I will give you something for your trouble, but I must see the
gardens.' She held out two golden pieces. 'Take these, and let me enter,'
she said imploringly.