highness was a member."

"Do you recollect whether she took any ornaments to her last resting
place?"

"Excepting the golden cross which your Majesty hung round her neck
on the day she took the vow, no jewelry was put on the princess. The
duchess even drew the little sapphire ring from her royal highness'
finger, to keep it as a remembrance and wear it herself."

"You are absolutely certain that the cross went into the coffin? You
could swear to it?"

"I could do so with fullest conviction, your Majesty."

"Would you recognize the cross?"

"To be sure I should."

"Is this it?"

"Good Heavens--it is! On the back there ought to be the initials of her
royal highness!"

"Here they are," said the king, reversing the cross. The old woman
shrank back appalled.

"Then, your Majesty, the vault has been broken into!"

"Possibly it has. The matter shall be investigated. I am much obliged to
you, ladies, and earnestly request you will both preserve unconditional
silence as to our present interview."

"Well," said the king to me, after the ladies in waiting had withdrawn,
"how do you account for this cross being here in my hand, considering
it was put into the coffin? You think the vault may have been pillaged?
That, I believe, is out of the question. The object of a carnival freak,
which could have been perpetrated just as easily in any other dress, is
far too slight to make such a horrible offense as the violation of the
dead worth while! But I intend to have the vault examined, and beg, my
dear baron, that you will attend. For the present, good night."

I spent a dreadful night, torturing my sleepless brain for a solution
of the riddle, and being forever haunted by the nun's dark eyes. It was
late when I woke.

Some hours after, the coffin was opened in the presence of the king,
whose surmise proved correct. The bolts on the coffin were intact. The
gold chain was there, safe round the princess' neck. But the cross was
gone. There was not the remotest sign of violence.

How I got out of that vault, I do not know. I remember feeling faint,
and being supported by two court officials. I am unaware of what
happened next. It was the only instance in my life in which my system
had so entirely given way. A serious illness was apprehended, but
my strong constitution won the day. For a long time my mind was in a
precarious state.

When I had recovered, the king sent for me.

"Are you still a skeptic?" he asked in a