“Monster?  My God! she said monster!” cried Pollnitz, pathetically.  “Fall upon your knees, mademoiselle, and pray fervently to your good fortune to forgive you; you have sinned greatly against it, I assure you.  You will confess this when I have told you the name of your partner.”

“Name him, then, at last.”

“Not before Princess Amelia is gracious enough to promise me that she will watch over and shield you; that she will never allow you a single tete-a-tete with your dangerous partner.”

“Ah, you will make me the duenna of my maid of honor,” said Amelia, laughing.  “I shall be the chaperon of my good Marwitz, and shield her from the weakness of her own heart.”

“If your royal highness declines to give this promise, Mademoiselle Marwitz shall have another partner.  I cannot answer to my conscience if she is left alone, unobserved and unprotected, with the most beautiful of the beautiful.”

“Be merciful, princess, and say yes.  For you see well that this terrible Pollnitz will make me a martyr to curiosity.  Consent, gracious princess, and then I may perhaps hear the name of my partner.”

“Well, then,” said Amelia, smiling, “I consent to play Mentor to my maid of honor.”

“Your royal highness promises then, solemnly, to be present at every conference between Mademoiselle von Marwitz and her irresistible partner?”

“I promise; be quick!  Marwitz will die of curiosity, if you do not tell the name of this wonder.”

“Well, now, that I have, so far as it is in my power, guarded the heart of this young girl from disaster, and placed it under the protecting eye of our noble princess, I venture to name my paragon.  He is the young lieutenant-Baron von Trenck, the favorite of the king and the court.”

Very different was the impression made by this name upon the two ladies.  The eager countenance of Mademoiselle von Marwitz expressed cool displeasure; while the princess, blushing and confused, turned aside to conceal the happy smile which played upon her full, rosy lips.

Pollnitz, who had seen all this, wished to give the princess time to collect herself.  He turned to Mademoiselle Marwitz and said:  “I see, to my amazement, that our lovely maid of honor is not so enraptured as I had hoped.  Mademoiselle, mademoiselle! you are a wonderful actress, but you cannot deceive me.  You wish to seem disappointed and indifferent, in order to induce our gracious princess to withdraw her promise to me, and to think it unnecessary to be present at your interviews with Trenck.  This acting is in vain.  The princess has given her word, and she will most surely keep it.”

“Certainly,” said Amelia, smiling, “I have no alternative.  Queens and princesses, kings and princes, are bound by their promises, even as common men, and their honor demands that they fulfil their contracts.  I will keep my word.  But enough of jesting for the present.  Let us speak now of the solemn realities of life, namely, of our toilets.  Baron, give me your model engraving, and make known your views.  Call my chambermaid, mademoiselle, and my dressmakers; we will hold a solemn conference.”