themselves. Hither some one or other of the
Imperial family occasionally came to play his whist, or chat away an hour
in pleasant gossip; these distinguished visitors never disturbing in the
slightest degree the easy tone of the society, nor exacting any
extraordinary marks of notice or attention.

The most frequent guest was the Archduke Louis, whose gayety of
temperament and easy humor induced him to pass nearly every evening with
us. He was fond of cards, but liked to talk away over his game, and make
play merely subsidiary to the pleasure of conversation. As I was but an
indifferent "whister," but a most admirable auditor, I was always selected
to make one of his party.

It was on one of the evenings when we were so engaged, and the Archduke
had been displaying a more than ordinary flow of good spirits and
merriment, a sudden lull in the approving laughter, and a general
subsidence of every murmur, attracted my attention. I turned my head to
see what had occurred, and perceived that all the company had risen, and
were standing with eyes directed to the open door.

"The Archduchess, your Imperial Highness!" whispered an aid-de-camp to the
Prince, and he immediately rose from the table, an example speedily
followed by the others. I grasped my chair with one hand, and with my
sword in the other, tried to stand up, an effort which hitherto I had
never accomplished without aid. It was all in vain--my debility utterly
denied the attempt. I tried again, but overcome by pain and weakness, I
was compelled to abandon the effort, and sink down on my seat, faint and
trembling. By this time the company had formed into a circle, leaving the
Archduke Louis alone in the middle of the room; I, to my increasing shame
and confusion, being seated exactly behind where the Prince stood.

There was a hope for me still; the Archduchess might pass on through the
rooms without my being noticed. And this seemed likely enough, since she
was merely proceeding to the apartments of the Empress, and not to delay
with us. This expectation was soon destined to be extinguished; for,
leaning on the arm of one of her ladies, the young Princess came straight
over to where Prince Louis stood. She said something in a low voice, and
he turned immediately to offer her a chair; and there was I seated, very
pale, and very much shocked at my apparent rudeness. Although I had been
presented before to the young Archduchess, she had not seen me in the
uniform