s,
scanned him over carefully from head to foot, and left the room.

Ludwig stared before him in silence, and then continued his tale in a
low voice and with bated breath, saying, "You can't imagine the degree
of almost contemptuous coldness with which Victorine received me. If it
hadn't been that her previous outbursts of burning affection had
convinced me that this coldness was merely put on to punish me, I
should really have had my doubts, and should have hesitated. But at
last this counterfeiting got too difficult for her, her behaviour grew
kindlier and kindlier, till all in a moment she gave me her shawl to
carry. And then my triumph was utterly brilliant. I rearranged that
'_seize_' of mine, which had played such an important part in my
destiny, danced it with her in the most heavenly manner, whispered in
her ear--at the proper moment, whilst balancing myself on tiptoe and
placing my arm about her--'Heavenly Countess, I love you unspeakably!
Angel of light, I implore you to be mine.' Victorine smiled into my
eyes; but that did not prevent me from paying the proper visit the next
morning, with the good help of my friend Cochenille, at the fitting
hour, about one o'clock, and making my formal proposal for her hand.
She gazed at me in silence. I threw myself at her feet, seized that
hand which was to be mine, and covered it with glowing kisses. She
allowed me to do this; but I really felt it a good deal, and thought it
was extremely queer, that all the time her eyes were fixed steadfastly
upon nothing that I could discover, staring before her as if she had
been a lifeless image. But at last a great tear or two came to her
eyes. She pressed my hand so vehemently that, as I happened to have a
sore finger, I could scarcely help crying out with the pain of it, rose
from her chair, and left the room with her handkerchief over her face.
I had no doubts as to my good fortune. I hastened to the Count and made
my formal proposal for his daughter.

"'Good. Very good, indeed, my dear Baron,' said the Count, smiling
in the most affable manner. 'But have you given the Countess any
intimation of this? Have you given her any opportunity of inferring it
at all? Are you beloved? I admit that I am foolish enough to take the
greatest possible interest in love matters.'

"I told him what had happened during the 'seize.' His eyes sparkled
with delight. 'That was delicious!' he cried over and over again. 'That
was most delicious, inde