Part 21 (2/2)

laughed his brother-in-law. ”There's something aristocratic looking about this Rojanow, too, which one does not expect to see in a foreigner. But I'm glad enough to invite any one out of the common for his grace. He must be wearied with this endless court etiquette and court gossip, year in and year out. The duke, by the way, seems to have taken a great fancy to this young Roumanian already.”

”Yes, so it seems,” said Wallmoden, a cloud gathering on his brow.

”As for the man's history, if he has any, what does it matter to us?

Well, I must look after Toni, and see how she's getting along without that lover of hers. That was a queer freak of Regine's. As soon as anything concerning her beloved Burgsdorf comes on the tapis, nothing will keep her. And she raises such a racket with her son, too. She might as well have left Will here. No one knows why she dragged him away; just before the duke came, too.--I'm sure I'll never understand your sister.”

”It's a good thing she did,” muttered Wallmoden, as he separated from von Schonau. ”If Willibald had seen his boyhood's friend here, there would have been another scene, doubtless. Who would have thought that Hartmut would carry his defiance so far as to go to a house where he must have known he would meet the amba.s.sador.”

Prince Adelsberg, who, through his name and wealth, and his near kins.h.i.+p to the reigning house, took a first position in the brilliant little circle, had made a point of introducing his dearest friend to the duke, at Rodeck, and the stranger had impressed the duke so favorably that he had made special comment of him to the d.u.c.h.ess.

This Rojanow, with his charming personality and the air of mystery which surrounded him, had only to exert himself to receive due attention on all sides.

And to-day he exercised all those fascinating qualities which he possessed in fullest measure. His conversation sparkled with wit and animation, and his ardent temperament imparted to everything he said the stamp of originality, while united with this he showed himself a master of social courtesies.

It was no difficult matter for the amba.s.sador to avoid the Roumanian; in a large house filled with guests, such avoidance is an easy matter, and neither of these two were anxious for a meeting. Wallmoden turned now into an adjoining room, where the duke's sister, the Princess Sophie, was holding a little court. The princess had married the younger son of a princely house, but had been a widow now for years, and had lived since her widowhood at her brother's court, where she was by no means a favorite. The d.u.c.h.ess was beloved for her gentleness and kind heartedness, by all who came in her way, but her elderly sister-in-law was disliked heartily for her arrogance and acerbity. They all feared her sharp tongue, which never failed to bring to light disagreeable features or fancies, as the case might be, concerning those with whom she had to do.

Herr von Wallmoden did not escape this fate; he was received most graciously and congratulated at once upon the great beauty of his wife, about which there could be no dispute.

”Your excellency has indeed my warmest congratulations. I was quite surprised when your young wife was presented to me. I had, as a matter of course, expected to meet a much older woman.”

The ”matter of course” had a malicious sound, for the princess had known for the past six months that the elderly amba.s.sador was married to a girl of nineteen; he smiled in a perfectly placid manner, as he answered:

”Your highness is very good. I cannot be too thankful if my wife has made a favorable impression upon yourself and your family.”

”O, you need not doubt that the duke and d.u.c.h.ess are quite of my opinion. Frau von Wallmoden is really a beauty--Prince Adelsberg seems to think so also. Perhaps you have not noticed how greatly he admires her?”

”Yes, your highness, I have noticed it.”

”Really? And what do you say to it?”

”I?” asked Wallmoden, composedly. ”Whether or no she cares to accept the prince's homage is wholly and solely my wife's affair. If she finds any pleasure in it--I certainly will lay no commands upon her.”

”Your enviable confidence in your wife should be an example to younger husbands,” replied the princess, angry that her arrow had missed its aim. ”It is very pleasant, at least for a young wife, to feel that her husband is not jealous. Ah, here comes Frau von Wallmoden herself, with her knight by her side. My dear baroness, we were just speaking of you.”

Adelheid von Wallmoden, who with Prince Adelsberg, had just entered the room, made a courtesy to the princess. She was indeed dazzling in her beauty to-day, for her rich Court toilette so well chosen, suited her most admirably. The costly white brocade, with its long, heavy folds, set off her slender figure to advantage, the pearls which encircled her neck, and the diamonds which glistened in her light blonde hair, were jewels well worth the notice of connoisseurs; but that which was most worthy of attention was the singular coldness and earnestness of this young wife's face and bearing. She bore no resemblance whatever to others of her own age in this brilliant a.s.semblage, who were for the most part married also, and who were decked out in all the witcheries of lace and flowers. They possessed nothing of her stateliness, but she in turn had none of their sweetness or a.s.sumed gentleness; none of that premeditated amiability which society women a.s.sume under the public gaze. The severe rigidity of that lovely face was a heritage from her father, whose stern, austere nature had left its impress upon her soul as well.

Egon kissed the hand of his ill.u.s.trious aunt, and murmured a few polite words of greeting, but the amiable attention of her highness was directed toward the beautiful woman who had just joined them.

”I was just saying to his excellency, that you found yourself at home very readily in our little Court circle, my dear baroness. You are entering our little society for the first time to-day, and have lived, no doubt, in a very different atmosphere until now. Your name was--?”

”Stahlberg, your highness,” was the quiet reply.

”Oh, yes, I remember it now. I have heard the name often enough. It was well known, I believe--in mercantile circles.”

”My dearest aunt, you must permit me to set you right in this matter,”

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