the money.  The wonder of it was my magnificent resemblance to the defunct.  I sat some three hours before the old warrior’s portraits in the dining-saloon of the lake-palace.  Accord me one good spell of meditation over a tolerable sketch, I warrant myself to represent him to the life, provided that he was a personage:  I incline to stipulate for handsome as well.  On my word of honour as a man and a gentleman, I pity the margravine—­my poor good Frau Feldmarschall!  Now, here, Richie,’—­my father opened a side-door out of an elegant little room into a spacious dark place, ’here is her cabinet-theatre, where we act German and French comediettas in Spring and Autumn.  I have superintended it during the two or more years of my stay at the Court.  Humph! ‘tis over.’

He abruptly closed the door.  His dress belonged to the part of a Spanish nobleman, personated by him in a Play called The Hidalgo Enraged, he said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at the melancholy door, behind which gay scenes had sparkled.

‘Papa!’ said I sadly, for consolation.

’You’re change for a sovereign to the amount of four hundred and forty-nine thousand shillings every time you speak!’ cried he, kissing my forehead.

He sparkled in good earnest on hearing that I had made acquaintance with the little Princess Ottilia.  What I thought of her, how she looked at me, what I said to her, what words she answered, how the acquaintance began, who were observers of it,—­I had to repair my omission to mention her by furnishing a precise description of the circumstances, describing her face and style, repeating her pretty English.

My father nodded:  he thought I exaggerated that foreign English of hers; but, as I said, I was new to it and noticed it.  He admitted the greater keenness of attention awakened by novelty.

‘Only,’ said he, ‘I rather wonder—­’ and here he smiled at me inquiringly. ‘’Tis true,’ he added, ’a boy of fourteen or fifteen—­ay, Richie, have your fun out.  A youngster saw the comic side of her.  Do you know, that child has a remarkable character?  Her disposition is totally unfathomable.  You are a deep reader of English poetry, I hope; she adores it, and the English Navy.  She informed me that if she had been the English people she would have made Nelson king.  The Royal family of England might see objections to that, I told her.  Cries she:  “Oh! anything for a sea-hero.”  You will find these young princes and princesses astonishingly revolutionary when they entertain brains.  Now at present, just at present, an English naval officer, and a poet, stand higher in the esteem of that young Princess Ottilia than dukes, kings, or emperors.  So you have seen her!’ my father ejaculated musingly, and hummed, and said:  ’By the way, we must be careful not to offend our grandpapa Beltham, Richie.  Good acres—­good anchorage; good coffers—­good harbourage.  Regarding poetry, my dear boy, you ought to be writing it, for I do—­the diversion of leisure hours, impromptus.  In poetry, I would scorn anything but impromptus.  I was saying, Richie, that if tremendous misfortune withholds from you your legitimate prestige, you must have the substantial element.  ’Tis your springboard to vault by, and cushions on the other side if you make a miss and fall.  ’Tis the essence if you have not the odour.’