CHAPTER III. "Why, I can smile, and murder while I smile; I can add colours to the cameleon; Change shapes with Proteus, for advantages, THE following evening, the same circle re-assembled in the apartments of the Empress, with the addition of his Imperial Majesty. Princess Stolberg, who deemed herself somewhat more secure when she learned how the attention of her persecutor was likely to be monopolized, ventured to join the assembly, and was in close waiting on her royal mistress, from whose side she was immoveable, in the hope of being protected from any repetition of insult. Nevertheless the malice of Wolfstein was of too subtle and pervading a quality to be easily eluded ;— immediately on offering his duteous salutations to his Sovereigns, he turned to her, and, with the softness of accent he so well knew how to assume, inquired after her health, and added, "Have you considered my advice, Princess ?” "How, Chevalier," said Ferdinand, "do you number medicine amongst your various gifts?" "May it please your Majesty, I prescribe sometimes for the fairer moiety of the creation, who take counsel with more docility than ours. My sweet friend has every claim on my gratitude-she was the first to hail the return of one who had too long wandered-she was my sponsor, and by her intercession I won my way to the feet of my gracious mistress. I can never forget," said he, with a look which no one, save the Princess, could interpret, "who was the first to lend her gentle credence to Wolfstein's sincerity." Provoked by his barbarous mockery of her unfortunate credulity, she remained silent; words of retort or resentment she dared not hazard, and others she would not deign to address to him. Louisa of Marchfeldt was somewhat surprised, and not altogether pleased, by the close and exclusive attention the Chevalier was paying to one whose wit and beauty had long constituted her the reigning belle of the court circle. She observed that his eye was riveted to her countenance, which underwent a succession of changes, with a strong but indefinable expression; she recollected that Wolfstein had the preceding day compelled her, with gentle force, to attempt his anthems; and she began now to account, by a thousand strained conjectures, for the uncontrollable agitation which disabled her from continuing the song, and obliged her to quit the assembly; nor had she forgotten the words uttered long ago by Lindau, "To whom did he dedicate his verses? For whom did he bring honey from Mount Hymettus, if not for you, Princess ?" Wolfstein was not blind to the cautious, stolen glance, which from time to time reconnoitred his position; and, while he gratified his innate malignity on one victim, he rejoiced in the conviction that he was at the same moment more inextricably entangling another in his net. He had, on the entrance of the Baroness, addressed to her a graceful, yet diffident bow, as if he had not confidence to presume on the intercourse of yesterday; and, having so done, returned to his conversation with the Princess, in which the Empress occasionally mingled, and never, to appearance, cast a second glance towards her: but the Chevalier was better furnished both with eyes and ears than other men, and few things past near him which could escape his observation. At length, the Empress reminded him of the purpose which had assembled them, and, looking with an air of regret, which he took care should be conspicuous, on Madame de Stolberg, he said, "I must leave you, and even the gratification of a poet's vanity hardly repays me for the sacrifice." 66 No, "said the Princess, in a suppressed tone, “because your vanity, overweening as it is, is secondary to your malice." He took up the lute, and approaching the Baroness of Marchfeldt, "Her Majesty, Madam," said he, " has commanded me to request a repetition of your good ness of yesterday." Nay, Chevalier," said the Baroness, you know I acted but as the substitute for Madame de Stolberg;-I am willing to aid, but should be sorry to usurp." "Ah, ha! the poison works!" thought he: "But the Princess is indisposed, or she lacks skill, or she lacks kindness; for yesterday her consent was only won by much importunity, and you witnessed the result of the essay. She is well aware' |