“Most honored sir, you can gain no more than you already possess,” exclaimed Schwarzenberg, bowing low.  “Will the Electress now permit me to address a question to her highness?”

“Ask your question quickly,” cried the Electress, “that I may hear the request it is to introduce, for I am really curious to know what the rich and powerful Count Schwarzenberg can have to desire of the poor, uninfluential Electress.”

“First, then, my question, most gracious lady:  At what hour does your highness command my fete to begin?”

“Will you leave the decision to me, my husband?” asked the Electress, smiling.

The Elector nodded assent.

“As you have invited my daughters,” said the Electress, “I presume that there will certainly be dancing, and evening hours suit best for that.  Let the fete commence at six o’clock.”

The Elector’s brow darkened, for he did not at all relish gay, noisy evening parties, and a solemn dinner at the regular hour would have been far more welcome to him.

“Your grace has prescribed the hour for the opening of the ball,” said Count Schwarzenberg reverentially.  “But I now also entreat further that you name a dinner hour, for I hope your highness will favor me by dining with me on that day.”

“Yes, that honor shall be shown you,” cried the Elector cheerfully.  “We shall come, surely we shall come.  And I will myself appoint the hour for the mid-day meal.  Let it be at two o’clock.  Then we shall have some pleasant hours at table before the dancing comes off and the music puts our heads in a whirl.”

“Two o’clock, then, most gracious sir.”

“And now, Sir Count,” cried the Electress, “now for your request.  Say quickly what it is.  What can you have to ask of me?”

“Most gracious Electress, I hardly venture to express it, and yet, by granting my request, you would do me a very great pleasure and honor.  Some splendid silk stuffs have been sent me from France by my cousin, who is Austrian ambassador there.  I had given him such a commission, as I thought of making a present to my aunt, the Countess Schwarzenberg at Vienna.  My cousin bought these stuffs for me, and writes me, moreover, that they are the newest fabrics from the looms of Lyons, and that he has just sent three such dresses to the Empress and the two archduchesses at Vienna.  Now, it did not seem to me becoming or appropriate that the Countess Schwarzenberg should wear robes such as the Empress and archduchesses wear, and I think gold and silver brocade suited to none but ladies of princely blood.”

“And you would give them to us, Sir Count?” cried the young Princess Sophie Hedwig, with heightened color in her cheeks and sparkling eyes.

The Electress and older Princess laughed aloud at this naive and hasty question, and even the Elector laughed a little.

A slight blush suffused the Electoral Prince’s face; he withdrew to the window and looked out.  Count Schwarzenberg, however, looked smilingly upon the young Princess, whose girlish impatience had come so opportunely to his rescue.