r, and saw Murphy, who said:

"I beg your your royal highness's pardon for thus disturbing you, but a
courier from the Prince of Herkauesen-Oldenzaal has just arrived with
this letter, which he says is very important, and must be delivered
immediately to your royal highness."

"Thanks, good Murphy. Do not go away," said Rodolph, with a sigh, "I
shall want you presently." And the prince, closing the door, remained a
moment in the ante-room to read the letter which Murphy had brought him,
and which was as follows:

"_My Lord_:--Trusting that the bonds of relationship existing
between us, as well as the friendship with which you have ever
honoured me, will excuse the boldness of the step I am about to
take, I will at once enter upon the purport of my letter,
dictated as it is by a conscientious desire to act as becomes
the man your highness deigns to style his friend.

"Fifteen months have now elapsed since you returned from France,
bringing with you your long-lost daughter, whom you so happily
discovered living with that mother from whom she had never been
parted, and whom you espoused when _in extremis_, in order to
legitimise the Princess Amelie.

"Thus ennobled, of matchless beauty, and, as I learn from my
sister, the abbess of Ste. Hermangeld, endowed with a character
pure and elevated as the princely race from which she springs,
who would not envy your happiness in possessing such a treasure?

"I will now candidly state the purport of my letter, although I
should certainly have been the bearer of the request it
contains, were it not that a severe indisposition detains me at
Oldenzaal.

"During the time my son passed at Gerolstein he had frequent
opportunities of seeing the Princess Amelie, whom he loves with
a passionate but carefully concealed affection. This fact I have
considered it right to acquaint you with, the more especially
as, after having received and entertained my son as
affectionately as though he had been your own, you added to your
kindness by inviting him to return, as quickly as his duties
would allow, to enjoy that sweet companionship so precious to
his heart; and it is probable that my apprising you of this
circumstance may induce you to withdraw your intended
hospitality to one who has presumed to aspire to the affections
of your peerless child.

"I am perfe