into your hands, to ruin my dear self. O what a French comedy! You betray, I betray, they betray. It is now my cue. The letter, yes. Behold the letter, madam, its seal unbroken as I found it by my bed this morning; for I was out of humour, and I get many, too many, of these favours. For your own sake, for the sake of my Prince Charming, for the sake of this great principality that sits so heavy on your conscience, open it and read!'

`Am I to understand,' inquired the Princess, `that this letter in any way regards me?'

`You see I have not opened it,' replied von Rosen; `but `tis mine, and I beg you to experiment.'

`I cannot look at it till you have,' returned Seraphina, very seriously. `There may be matter there not meant for me to see; it is a private letter.'

The Countess tore it open, glanced it through, and tossed it back; and the Princess, taking up the sheet, recognised the hand of Gondremark, and read with a sickening shock the following lines:-

`Dearest Anna, come at once. Ratafia has done the deed, her husband is to be packed to prison. This puts the minx entirely in my power; le tour est joué; she will now go steady in harness, or I will know the reason why. Come.

HEINRICH.'

`Not cruel, madam -- salutary,' said Seraphina, with a phantom smile. `No, I thank you, I require no attentions. The first surprise affected me: will you give me time a little? I must think.'

She took her head between her hands, and contemplated for a while the hurricane confusion of her thoughts.

`This information reaches me,' she said, `when I have need of it. I would not do as you have done, but yet I thank you. I have been much deceived in Baron Gondremark.'

`O, madam, leave Gondremark, and think upon the Prince!' cried von Rosen.

`You speak once more as a private person,' said the Princess; `nor do I blame you. But my own thoughts are more distracted. However, as I believe you are truly a friend to my -- to the -- as I believe,' she said, `you are a friend to Otto, I shall put the order for his release into your hands this moment. Give me the ink-dish. There!' And she wrote hastily, steadying her arm upon the table, for she trembled like a reed. `Remember; madam,' she resumed, handing her the order, `this must not be used nor spoken of at present; till I have seen the Baron, any hurried step -- I lose myself in thinking. The suddenness has shaken me.'

`I promise you I will not use it,' said the Countess, `till you give me leave, although I wish the Prince could be informed of it, to comfort his poor heart. And O, I had forgotten, he has left a letter. Suffer me, madam, I will bring it you. This is the door, I think?' And she sought to open it.

`The bolt is pushed,' said Seraphina, flushing.

`O! O!' cried the Countess.

A silence fell between them.

`I will get it for myself,' said Seraphina; `and in the meanwhile I beg you to leave me. I thank you, I am sure, but I shall be obliged if you will leave me.'