think he could have found a chance to do so
much in such a short time; but our Emperor is a man of action.
Yesterday we had a picnic at the Seebachfall, to see Thorwaldsen's
Undine. Leopold and Miss Mowbray being splendid climbers, reached the
statue on the height over the fall long before the rest of us. At
starting, however, I was close behind with the Baroness, and overheard
some joke between the two, about a mountain and a cow. The Emperor
spoke of milking as a fine art, and said he'd lately been taking
lessons. They laughed a great deal at this, and it was plain that
they were on terms of comradeship. When a young man and a girl have a
secret understanding--even the most innocent one--it puts them apart
from others.

"Last night there were fireworks on the lake. The Emperor and Miss
Mowbray watched them together, for everything was conducted most
informally. Afterwards we had an impromptu cotillion, with three or
four pretty new figures invented by the Baroness. The Emperor gave
Miss Mowbray several favors, and one was a buckle of enameled
forget-me-nots. This morning there was tennis. The Emperor and Miss
Mowbray played together. They were both so skilful, it was a pleasure
to watch them. At luncheon they each ate a double almond out of one
shell, had a game over it, and Leopold caught Miss Mowbray napping.
That brings us to the moment of my coming to you. For the afternoon, I
fancy the Baroness was getting up a riding party; and this evening
unless they're too tired, she'll perhaps get up an amateur concert at
which Miss Mowbray will sing. The girl has a delicious voice."

"The creature must be a fool, or an adventuress," pronounced the
Chancellor. "If she has kept her senses she ought to know that
nothing can come of this folly--except sorrow or scandal."

Egon shrugged his stiffly padded, military shoulders. "I have always
found that a woman in love doesn't stop to count the cost."

"So! You fancy her 'in love' with the Emperor."

"With the man, rather than the Emperor, if I'm a judge of character."

"Which you're not!" Iron Heart brusquely disposed of that suggestion.
"The merest school-girl could pull wool over your eyes, if she cared
to take the trouble."

"This one doesn't care a rap. She hardly knows that I exist."

"Humph!" The Chancellor's eyes appraised his young brother's features.
"That's a pity. You might have tried cutting the Emperor out. Her
affair with him can have no happy ending; whil