“What is the matter with you?” the English lady asked.  “Do you know those people?”

“Certainly!  She is a Viennese lady,” Countess H——­ whispered; “Countess W——.”

“Oh!  Indeed you are quite mistaken; it is a Count Savelli and his wife.  They are a handsome couple, don’t you think so?”

When the boat came nearer, she saw that in spite of that, it was little Countess W——­ and that the handsome man was her former riding-master, whom she had married, and for whom she had bought a title from the Pope; and as the two boats passed each other, the short sable cloak, which was thrown carelessly over his shoulders, exhaled, like the old cat’s skin jacket of that impudent female circus rider, a strong stable perfume.

THE ILL-OMENED GROOM

An impudent theft, to a very large amount, had been committed in the Capital.  Jewels, a valuable watch set with diamonds, his wife’s miniature in a frame enchased with brilliants, and a considerable sum in money, the whole amounting in value to a hundred and fifteen thousand florins, had been stolen.  The banker himself went to the Director of Police[4] to give notice of the robberies, but at the same time he begged as a special favor that the investigation might be carried on as quietly and considerately as possible, as he declared that he had not the slightest ground for suspecting anybody in particular, and did not wish any innocent person to be accused.

[Footnote 4:  Head of the Criminal Investigation Department.—­TRANSLATOR.]

“First of all, give me the names of all the persons who regularly go into your bedroom,” the police director said.

“Nobody, except my wife, my children, and Joseph, my valet, a man for whom I would answer as I would for myself.”

“Then you think him absolutely incapable of committing such a deed?”

“Most decidedly I do,” the banker replied.

“Very well; then can you remember whether on the day on which you first missed the articles that have been stolen, or on any days immediately preceding it, anybody who was not a member of your household, happened by chance to go to your bedroom?”

The banker thought for a moment, and then said with some hesitation: 

“Nobody, absolutely nobody.”

The experienced official, however, was struck by the banker’s slight embarrassment and momentary blush, so he took his hand, and looking him straight in the face, he said: 

“You are not quite candid with me; somebody was with you, and you wish to conceal the fact from me.  You must tell me everything.”

“No, no; indeed there was nobody here.”  “Then at present, there is only one person on whom any suspicion can rest—­and that is your valet.”

“I will vouch for his honesty,” the banker replied immediately.

“You may be mistaken, and I shall be obliged to question the man.”