and
knock down a tambourine hung up nine feet above the tip of my nose with
my toe! And as for this egg-fandago, why I have often smashed more eggs
in performing that dance than seven hens would lay in four-and-twenty
hours."

"Bless my soul," said the Consistorial-President, "that was doing the
thing in a most stupendous style!"

"Yes," said the Count. "And then I must tell you my good old Cochenille
plays the flageolet really very nicely indeed. And now and then I get
him to play for me in the dressing-room; and then I really give myself
full swing in the dancing line--of course, only there quite in private.
You see what I mean?"

"Of course, of course," answered the Consistorial-President, "I quite
understand."

Meanwhile Emanuela and her companion had disappeared.

As the company were about dispersing the hostess said, "Friend Euchar,
I feel certain that you know a great deal more than you have told us
about your friend Edgar, We should be deeply interested to hear a great
deal more. "What you have told us was only a fragment of it, though it
has so excited and interested us that none of us will sleep a wink to
night. I can't accord you longer time than till to-morrow evening for
satisfying our curiosity. "We must hear more of Don Rafaele, and
Empecinado, and the Guerillas. And if it is possible that Edgar can get
into a love affair, please don't deprive us of the satisfaction of
that."

"That would be delightful!" sounded from all sides; and Euchar had to
promise that he would be present with the matter necessary for the
completing of his story.

As they were going home Ludwig could not say enough on the subject of
Victorine's passion for him, bordering, as it seemed to do, on
insanity. "All the same," he said, "that jealousy of hers has had the
effect of enabling me to read my own heart clearly. And I have read
there that my love for Emanuela is a thing unutterable. I am going to
find her out, declare my passionate adoration for her--and clasp her to
my heart."

"Exactly, my dear child," said Euchar imperturbably. "That is, of
course, the proper thing for you to do."

On the next evening when the company were assembled again _chez Madame
la Presidente_, she told them with much regret that Baron Euchar had
written to say that he was unexpectedly obliged to start immediately on
a journey, and must postpone the continuation of his story till he came
back.

EUCHAR'S RETURN. SCENES IN A TRULY HAPPY ME