earance.
"What have we here?" said one. "Is this a prince or a mountebank?" "What
boy, with a much-braid-bedizened velvet coat is this?" muttered an old
German, as he pointed at me with his pipe-stick..

One pronounced me a fencing-master; but public reprobation found its
limit at last by calling me a Frenchman. Shall I own that I heard all
these with something much more akin to pride than to shame? The mere
fact that they recognized me as unlike one of themselves--that they saw
in me what was not "Fiumano "--was in itself a flattery; and as to the
depreciation, it was pure ignorance! I am afraid that I even showed how
defiantly I took this criticism,--showed it in my look, and showed it
in my gait; for as I ascended the steps to the terrace of the villa,
I heard more than one comment on my pretentious demeanor. Perhaps some
rumor of the approach of a distinguished guest had reached Herr Oppovich
where he sat, at a table with some of the magnates of Fiume, for be
hastily arose and came forward to meet me. Just as I gained the last
terrace, the old man stood bareheaded and bowing before me, a semicircle
of wondering guests at either side of him.

"Whom have I the distinguished honor to receive?" said Herr Ignaz, with
a profound show of deference.

"Don't you know me, sir? Owen,--Digby Owen."

"What!--how?--Eh--in heaven's name--sure it can't be! Why, I protest it
is," cried he, laying his hand on my shoulder, as if to test my reality.
"This passes all belief. Who ever saw the like! Come here, Knabe, come
here." And slipping his hand within my arm, he led me towards the table
he had just quitted. "Sara," cried he, "here is a guest you have not
noticed; a high and wellborn stranger, who claims all your attention.
Let him have the place of honor at your side. This, ladies and
gentlemen, is Herr Digby Owen, the stave-counter of my timber-yard!" And
he burst, with this, into a roar of laughter, that, long pent up by an
effort, now seemed to threaten him with a fit Nor was the company slow
in chorusing him; round after round shook the table, and it seemed as if
the joke could never be exhausted.

All this time I stood with my eyes fixed on the Fraulein, whose glance
was directed as steadfastly on me. It was a haughty look she bent on me,
but it became her well, and I forgave all the scorn it conveyed in the
pleasure her beauty gave me. My face, which at first was in a flame,
became suddenly cold, and a faintish sickness w