At that auspicious time, she was but eighteen years of age, and second cook in the principal tavern of Neuchatel, Switzerland.  Georgia and I sat entranced, as with animated words and gestures she pictured the appearance of the buglers and heralds who came weeks in advance to announce the date on which the Emperor and Empress would arrive in that town and dine at the tavern; then the excitement and enthusiastic preparations which followed.  She described the consultations between the Herr Wirth and the Frau Wirthin and their maids; and how, finally, Marie’s butter-piece for the christening feast of the child of the Herr Graf was remembered; and she, the lowly second cook, was told that a corner in the cellar would be set apart for her especial use, and that she should have her evenings to devote to the work, and three groschen (seven and a half cents) added to her week’s wages, if she would produce a fitting centrepiece for the Emperor’s table.

Five consecutive nights, she designed and modelled until the watchman’s midnight cry drove her from work, and at three o’clock in the morning of the sixth day, she finished.  And what a centrepiece it was!  It required the careful handling of no less than three persons to get it in place on the table, where the Emperor might see at a glance the groups of figures along the splendid highway, which was spanned by arches and terminated with a magnificently wrought gateway, surmounted by His Majesty’s coat of arms.

We scarcely winked as we listened to the rest of the happenings on that memorable day.  She recounted how she had dropped everything at the sound of martial music and from the tiny open space at the window caught glimpses of the passing pageant—­of the royal coaches, of the maids of honor, of Josephine in gorgeous attire, of the snow-white poodle snuggled close in the Empress’s arms.  Then she told how she heard a heavy thud by the kitchen fire, which made her rush back, only to discover that the head cook had fallen to the floor in a faint!

She gave the quick call which brought the Frau Wirthin to the scene of confusion, where in mute agony, she looked from servant to servant, until, with hands clasped, and eyes full of tears, she implored, “Marie, take the higher place for the day, and with God’s help, make no mistake.”

Then she went on to say that while the dinner was being served, the Emperor admired the butter-piece, and on hearing that it was the work of a young maidservant in the house, commanded that she be brought in to receive commendation of himself and the Empress.  Again the Frau Wirthin rushed to the kitchen in great excitement, and—­knowing that Marie’s face was red from heat of the fire, that she was nervous from added responsibilities, and not dressed for presentation—­cried with quivering lips: 

“Ah, Marie! the butter-piece is so grand, it brings us into trouble.  The great Emperor asks to see thee, and thou must come!”