and kissed her, held her at arm's length, drew her
to her heart and again kissed her. It was like a farewell. Then she
let her go. "If there is anything you need, make yourself at home with
my cases." And her Highness was gone.

Betty gazed at the door through which dear Gretchen had passed, gazed
thoughtfully and anxiously.

"How oddly she acted! I wonder--" She made as though to run to the
door, but stopped, as if ashamed of the doubt which flashed into her
mind and out again.

The little clock on the mantel chimed forth the seventh hour, and she
rang for her maid. It was time that she began dressing.

(Thus, for the present, I shall leave her. There are several reasons
why my imagination should take this step; for, what should I know of a
woman's toilet, save in the general mysterious results? However, I
feel at liberty to steal into the duke's dressing-room. Here, while I
am not positive what happened, at least I can easily bring my
imagination to bear upon the picture.)

The duke was rather pleased with himself. He liked to put on his state
uniform, with its blue-grey frock, the white doeskin trousers which
strapped under the patent-leather boots, the gold braid, the silver
saber and the little rope of medals strung across his full, broad
breast. It was thus he created awe; it was thus he became truly the
sovereign, urbane and majestic.

His valet was buckling on the saber belt, when there came a respectful
tap on the door.

"Enter," said the duke, frowning. One can not assert any particular
degree of dignity with a valet at one's side.

But it was only a corridor attendant who entered. He approached the
duke's valet and presented a letter.

"For his serene Highness." He bowed and backed out, closing the door
gently.

At once the valet bowed also and extended the letter to his master.
Formality is a fine thing in a palace.

"Ah, a letter," mused the duke, profoundly innocent of the viper which
was about to sting him. "My glasses, Gustav; my eye-glasses!"

The valet hurried to the dresser and returned with the duke's state
eye-glasses. These the duke perched deliberately upon the end of his
noble nose. He opened the letter and read its contents. The valet,
watching him slyly, saw him grow pale, then red, and finally
purple,--wrath has its rainbow. His hands shook, the glasses slipped
from his palpitating nose. And I grieve to relate that his serene
Highness swore something marvel