ace of Biberich. Biberich lies on the right bank
of the river, not very far from Mainz, and its palace was built at the
beginning of the eighteenth century by George Augustus, Duke of Nassau.

The legend states that not long after the erection of the palace a
Duchess of Nassau died there, and lay in state as befitted her rank in a
room hung with black velvet and lighted with the glimmer of many tapers.

Outside in the great hall a captain and forty-nine men of the Duke's
bodyguard kept watch over the chamber of death.

It was midnight. The captain of the guard, weary with his vigil, had
gone to the door of the palace for a breath of air. Just as the last
stroke of the hour died away he beheld the approach of a chariot, drawn
by six magnificent coal-black horses, which, to his amazement, drew up
before the palace. A lady, veiled and clad in white, alighted and made
as though she would enter the building. But the captain barred the way
and challenged the bold intruder.

"Who are you," he said sternly, "who seek to enter the palace at this
hour? My orders are to let none pass."

"I was first lady of the bedchamber to our late Duchess," replied
the lady in cold, imperious tones; "therefore I demand the right of
entrance."

As she spoke she flung aside her veil, and the captain, instantly
recognizing her, permitted her to enter the palace without further
hindrance.

"What can she want here at this time of night?" he said to his
lieutenant, when the lady had passed into the death-chamber.

"Who can say?" replied the lieutenant. "Unless, perchance," he mused,
"we were to look."

The captain took the hint, crept softly to the keyhole, and applied his
eye thereto. "Ha!" he said, shrinking back in amazement and terror, and
beckoning to his lieutenant. "In Satan's name what have we here?"

The lieutenant hastened to the chamber door, full of alarm and
curiosity. Putting his eye to the keyhole, he also ejaculated, turned
pale, and trembled. One by one the soldiers of the guard followed their
officers' example, like them to retreat with exclamations of horror. And
little wonder; for they perceived the dead Duchess sitting up in bed,
moving her pale lips as though in conversation, while by her side stood
the lady of the bedchamber, pale as she, and clad in grave-clothes. For
a time the ghastly conversation continued, no words being audible to
the terror-stricken guard; but from time to time a hollow sound reached
them, li