ehind her fan, with many
glances, many cunning strokes of the narrator's art. The others had
drawn away, for it was understood that Madame von Rosen was in favour
with the Prince. None the less, however, did the Countess lower her
voice at times to within a semitone of whispering; and the pair leaned
together over the narrative.

"Do you know," said Otto, laughing, "you are the only entertaining woman
on this earth!"

"O, you have found out so much," she cried.

"Yes, madam, I grow wiser with advancing years," he returned.

"Years!" she repeated. "Do you name the traitors? I do not believe in
years; the calendar is a delusion."

"You must be right, madam," replied the Prince. "For six years that we
have been good friends, I have observed you to grow younger."

"Flatterer," cried she, and then, with a change, "But why should I say
so," she added, "when I protest I think the same? A week ago I had a
council with my father director, the glass; and the glass replied, 'Not
yet!' I confess my face in this way once a month. O! a very solemn
moment. Do you know what I shall do when the mirror answers, 'Now'?"

"I cannot guess," said he.

"No more can I," returned the Countess. "There is such a choice!
Suicide, gambling, a nunnery, a volume of memoirs, or politics--the
last, I am afraid."

"It is a dull trade," said Otto.

"Nay," she replied, "it is a trade I rather like. It is, after all,
first cousin to gossip, which no one can deny to be amusing. For
instance, if I were to tell you that the Princess and the Baron rode out
together daily to inspect the cannon, it is either a piece of politics
or scandal, as I turn my phrase. I am the alchemist that makes the
transmutation. They have been everywhere together since you left," she
continued, brightening as she saw Otto darken; "that is a poor snippet
of malicious gossip--and they were everywhere cheered--and with that
addition all becomes political intelligence."

"Let us change the subject," said Otto.

"I was about to propose it," she replied, "or rather to pursue the
politics. Do you know? this war is popular--popular to the length of
cheering Princess Seraphina."

"All things, madam, are possible," said the Prince; "and this among
others, that we may be going into war, but I give you my word of honour
I do not know with whom."

"And you put up with it?" she cried. "I have no pretensions to morality;
and I confess I have always abominated the lamb, and nouris