The evening grew dark; the guests appeared, and were presented to me.  Nothing more was said about Majesty; I was styled with deep reverence and obeisance, Count.  What was to be done?  I allowed the title to stand, and remained from that hour Count Peter.  In the midst of festive multitudes my soul yearned alone after one.  She entered late—­she was and wore the crown.  She followed modestly her parents, and seemed not to know that she was the loveliest of all.  They were presented to me as Mr. Forest-master, his lady and their daughter.  I found many agreeable and obliging things to say to the old people; before the daughter I stood like a rebuked boy, and could not bring out one word.  I begged her, at length, with a faltering tone, to honor this feast by assuming the office whose insignia she graced.  She entreated with blushes and a moving look to be excused; but blushing still more than herself in her presence, I paid her as her first subject my homage, with a most profound respect, and the hint of the Count became to all the guests a command which every one with emulous joy hastened to obey.  Majesty, innocence, and grace presided in alliance with beauty over a rapturous feast.  Mina’s happy parents believed their child thus exalted only in honor of them.  I myself was in an indescribable intoxication.  I caused all the jewels which yet remained of those which I had formerly purchased, in order to get rid of burthensome gold, all the pearls, all the precious stones, to be laid in two covered dishes, and at the table, in the name of the queen, to be distributed round to her companions and to all the ladies.  Gold, in the meantime, was incessantly strewed over the encompassing ropes among the exulting people.

Bendel, the next morning, revealed to me in confidence that the suspicion which he had long entertained of Rascal’s honesty was now become certainty—­that he had yesterday embezzled whole purses of gold.  “Let us permit,” replied I, “the poor scoundrel to enjoy the petty plunder.  I spend willingly on everybody, why not on him?  Yesterday he and all the fresh people you have brought me served me honestly; they helped me joyfully to celebrate a joyful feast.”

There was no further mention of it.  Rascal remained the first of my servants, but Bendel was my friend and my confidant.  The latter was accustomed to regard my wealth as inexhaustible, and he pried not after its sources; entering into my humor, he assisted me rather to discover opportunities to exercise it, and to spend my gold.  Of that unknown one, that pale sneak, he knew only this, that I could alone through him be absolved from the curse which weighed on me; and that I feared him, on whom my sole hope reposed.  That, for the rest, I was convinced that he could discover me anywhere; I him nowhere; and that therefore awaiting the promised day, I abandoned every vain inquiry.