discontentedly the grand duke appraised the scene, and in the murky twilight which heralded the day he found the world a cheerless place. the gardens of breschau were deserted, save for a travelling carriage and its fretful horses, who stamped and snuffled within forty yards of the summer-house.
"it appears," he said, "that i am the first on the ground, and that de
châteauroux is a dilatory lover. young men degenerate."
saying this, he seated himself on a convenient bench, where de châteauroux found him a few minutes later, and promptly dropped a portmanteau at the ducal feet.
"monsieur le comte," the grand duke said, "this is an unforeseen pleasure."
"your highness!" cried de châteauroux, in astonishment.
"ludovicus," said the grand duke, "dei gratia archi dux noumariæ, princeps gatinensis, and so on." and de châteauroux caressed his chin.
"i did not know," said the grand duke, "that you were such an early riser.
or perhaps," he continued, "you are late in retiring. fy, fy, monsieur! you
must be more careful! you must not create a scandal in our little court."
he shook his finger knowingly at philippe de châteauroux.
"your highness,—" said the latter, and stammered into silence.
"you said that before," the grand duke leisurely observed.
"an affair of business—"
"ah! ah! ah!" said the grand duke, casting his eye first toward the portmanteau and then toward the carriage, "can it be that you are leaving noumaria? we shall miss you, comte."
"i was summoned very hastily, or i would have paid my respects to your
highness—"
"indeed," said the grand duke, "your departure is of a deplorable suddenness—"
"it is urgent, your highness—"
"—and yet," pursued the grand duke, "travel is beneficial to young men."
"i shall not go far, your highness—"
"nay, i would not for the world intrude upon your secrets, comte—"
"—but my estates, your highness—"
"—for young men will be young men, i know."
"—there is, your highness, to be a sale of meadow land—"
"which you will find, i trust, untilled."
"—and my counsellor at law, your highness, is imperative—"
"at times," agreed the grand duke, "the most subtle of counsellors is unreasonable. i trust, though, that she is handsome?"
"ah, your highness—!" cried de châteauroux.
"and you have my blessing upon your culture of those meadow lands. go in peace."
the grand duke was smiling on his wife's kinsman with extreme benevolence when the baroness von altenburg appeared in travelling costume and carrying a portmanteau.
