I do not here refer to the complete sacrifice of every
rag of her reputation; for to many women these extremities are in
themselves attractive. But there is about the court a certain lady of a
dishevelled reputation, a Countess von Rosen, wife or widow of a cloudy
count, no longer in her second youth, and already bereft of some of her
attractions, who unequivocally occupies the station of the Baron's
mistress. I had thought, at first, that she was but a hired accomplice,
a mere blind or buffer for the more important sinner. A few hours'
acquaintance with Madame von Rosen for ever dispelled the illusion. She
is one rather to make than to prevent a scandal, and she values none of
those bribes--money, honours, or employment--with which the situation
might be gilded. Indeed, as a person frankly bad, she pleased me, in the
court of Grunewald, like a piece of nature.

The power of this man over the Princess is, therefore, without bounds.
She has sacrificed to the adoration with which he has inspired her not
only her marriage vow and every shred of public decency, but that vice of
jealousy which is so much dearer to the female sex than either intrinsic
honour or outward consideration. Nay, more: a young, although not a very
attractive woman, and a princess both by birth and fact, she submits to
the triumphant rivalry of one who might be her mother as to years, and
who is so manifestly her inferior in station. This is one of the
mysteries of the human heart. But the rage of illicit love, when it is
once indulged, appears to grow by feeding; and to a person of the
character and temperament of this unfortunate young lady, almost any
depth of degradation is within the reach of possibility.

CHAPTER III--THE PRINCE AND THE ENGLISH TRAVELLER

So far Otto read, with waxing indignation; and here his fury overflowed.
He tossed the roll upon the table and stood up. 'This man,' he said, 'is
a devil. A filthy imagination, an ear greedy of evil, a ponderous
malignity of thought and language: I grow like him by the reading!
Chancellor, where is this fellow lodged?'

'He was committed to the Flag Tower,' replied Greisengesang, 'in the
Gamiani apartment.'

'Lead me to him,' said the Prince; and then, a thought striking him, 'Was
it for that,' he asked, 'that I found so many sentries in the garden?'

'Your Highness, I am unaware,' answered Greisengesang, true to his
policy. 'The disposition of the guards is a matter disti