an nobility. But this is not what I want. My good
Chevalier, you have hid no secrets from me. You have told me with
what difficulty you have induced the Princess Olivia to consent to the
project of your union with the Grafinn Ida, whom you don't love. I know
whom you love very well.'

'Monsieur de Balibari!' said the discomfited Chevalier; he could get out
no more. The truth began to dawn upon him.

'You begin to understand,' continued I. 'Her Highness the Princess' (I
said this in a sarcastic way) 'will not be very angry, believe me, if
you break off your connection with the stupid Countess. I am no more an
admirer of that lady than you are; but I want her estate. I played you
for that estate, and have won it; and I will give you your bills and
five thousand ducats on the day I am married to it.'

'The day _I_ am married to the Countess,' answered the Chevalier,
thinking to have me, 'I will be able to raise money to pay your claim
ten times over' (this was true, for the Countess's property may have
been valued at near half a million of our money); 'and then I will
discharge my obligations to you. Meanwhile, if you annoy me by threats,
or insult me again as you have done, I will use that influence, which,
as you say, I possess, and have you turned out of the duchy, as you were
out of the Netherlands last year.'

I rang the bell quite quietly. 'Zamor,' said I to a tall negro fellow
habited like a Turk, that used to wait upon me, 'when you hear the bell
ring a second time, you will take this packet to the Marshal of the
Court, this to his Excellency the General de Magny, and this you
will place in the hands of one of the equerries of his Highness the
Hereditary Prince. Wait in the ante-room, and do not go with the parcels
until I ring again.'

The black fellow having retired, I turned to Monsieur de Magny and said,
'Chevalier, the first packet contains a letter from you to me, declaring
your solvency, and solemnly promising payment of the sums you owe me; it
is accompanied by a document from myself (for I expected some resistance
on your part), stating that my honour has been called in question,
and begging that the paper may be laid before your august master his
Highness. The second packet is for your grandfather, enclosing the
letter from you in which you state yourself to be his heir, and begging
for a confirmation of the fact. The last parcel, for his Highness the
Hereditary Duke,' added I, looking most sternly,