d the absolute ruler over the Duke's
household and all who belonged to it. He was one of those men of action
who speedily distinguish themselves wherever the game of life is being
played. Smart to discern the character of those around him, prompt to
avail himself of their knowledge, little hampered by the scruples which
conventionalities impose on men bred in a higher station, he generally
attained his object before others had arranged their plans to oppose
him. To these qualities he added a rugged, unflinching honesty, and
a loyal attachment to the person of his Prince. Strong in his own
conscious rectitude, and in the confiding regard of his sovereign,
Stubber stood alone against all the wiles and machinations of his
formidable rivals.

Were we giving a history of this curious court and its intrigues, we
could relate some strange stories of the mechanism by which states are
ruled. We have, however, no other business with the subject than as it
enters into the domain of our own story, and to this we return.

It was a calm evening of the early autumn, as the Prince, accompanied
by Stubber alone, and unattended by even a groom, rode along one of the
alleys of the olive wood which skirts the sea-shore beneath Massa.
His Highness was unusually moody and thoughtful, and as he sauntered
carelessly along, seemed scarcely to notice the objects about him.

"What month are we in, Stubber?" asked he, at length.

"September, Altezza," was the short reply.

"_Per Bacco!_ so it is; and in this very month we were to have been in
Bohemia with the Archduke Stephen,--the best shooting in all Europe, and
the largest stock of pheasants in the whole world, perhaps; and I, that
love field-sports as no man ever loved them! Eh, Stubber?" and he
turned abruptly round to seek a confirmation of what he asserted.
Either Stubber did not fully agree in the judgment, or did not deem
it necessary to record his concurrence; but the Prince was obliged to
reiterate his statement, adding, "I might say, indeed, it is the one
solitary dissipation I have ever permitted myself."

Now, this was a stereotyped phrase of his Highness, and employed by him
respecting music, literature, field-sports, picture-buying, equipage,
play, and a number of other pursuits not quite so pardonable, in each of
which, for the time, his zeal would seem to be exclusive.

A scarcely audible ejaculation--a something like a grunt--from Stubber,
was the only assent to this prop