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concert…room and ordered the music to commence。 Even this had no effect。 The royal capello played an overture composed by the king； with masterly precisionthe singers emulated them in an Italian ariabut all this did not silence the noisy conversation of the Frenchmen。 They laughed and chatted without restraint； and neither the amazed glances of the princesses nor the signs of the grand…master of ceremonies； made the slightest impression upon them。
Suddenly there was a slight pause； and the Princess Amelia rose up from her seat and beckoned with her fan to Baron Pollnitz。 In a loud and angry voice； she said： 〃Baron Pollnitz； I insist upon your forcing these shrieking popinjays of the Marquise de Pompadour to silence。 We cannot hear the music for their loud chattering。 The like birds may pass very well in the gallant boudoir of a certain marquise； but not in a royal palace of Berlin。〃
Pollnitz shrank back in alarm； and fixed an imploring look upon the princess。 Amongst the French officers arose an angry murmur； swelling louder and louder； more and more threatening； and completely drowning the music which was just recommencing。
The queen bowed down to the princess。 〃I pray you； sister；〃 said she in a low voice； 〃remember that we are poor； unprotected women； and not in a condition to defend ourselves。 Let us appear not to remark this unmannerly conduct； and let us remember that the king has made it our duty to receive the French officers with marked attention。〃
〃You； sister； are simply a slave to the commands of the king。 He is more truly your master than your husband；〃 said the princess； angrily。
The queen smiled sweetly。 〃You are right； I am his slave； and my soul has chosen him for its lord。 Blame me not； then； for my obedience。〃
〃Do you intend to allow the arrogant presumption of these haughty Frenchmen to go unpunished？〃
〃I will take pains not to observe it；〃 said the queen； turning her attention again to the music。 During all this time； Count Belleville stood behind Fraulein Marshal。 While the concert was going on； he bowed over her and spoke long and impressively。 Fraulein Marshal did not reply； neither his ardent love…assurances； nor his glowing reproaches； nor his passionate entreaties； nor his bold and offensive insolence； could draw from her one word； one look。
When the concert was over； and they were about to return to the saloon where； until supper； they could dance and amuse themselves； the young maiden turned with calm composure and indifference to Count Belleville。 〃Sir； I forbid you to molest me with your presence； and I counsel you no longer to offend my ears with these indecent romances； which you have no doubt learned upon the streets of Paris。 But if； believing that I am unprotected； you still dare to insult me； I Inform you that my father has this moment arrived； and will certainly relieve me from your disagreeable and troublesome society。〃 She spoke aloud； and not only Belleville； but the group of French officers who stood behind him； heard every word。 She passed by them with calm indifference and joined a large； elderly officer； who was leaning against a pillar； and who stretched out his hand smilingly toward her。
〃Father；〃 she said； 〃God himself put it in your heart to come to Berlin this day。 You are by my side； and I have nothing to fear。 I know you can protect me。〃
In the mean time； the musicians commenced to play the grave and at the same time coquettish minuet； and the officers drew near the ladies to lead them to the dance。 This was done； however； in so bold and unconstrained a manner； with such manifest nonchalance； the request was made with such levity； the words were so little respectful； that the ladies drew back frightened。 Princess Amelia called Fraulein Marshal to her side。 She took her hand with a kindly smile。
〃My child；〃 she said； 〃I rejoice that you have the courage to defy these shameless coxcombs。 Go on； and count upon my protection。 Why are you not dancing？〃
〃Because no one has asked me。〃
At this moment an officer drew near with diligent haste； apparently to lead her to the dance。 While in the act of offering his hand to her he made a sudden movement； as if he had just recognized the lady； turned his back； and withdrew without a word of apology。
The princess was enraged。 〃I promise you they shall be punished for this presumption。 〃She turned to Baron Marshal； who stood behind his daughter： 〃Baron；〃 said she； 〃if this leads to a duel； I will be your second！〃
CHAPTER VII。
IN THE WINDOW…NICHE。
While these events were occurring in the dancing…room； and the queen was seated at the card…table； the Princess Wilhelmina； wife of Prince Henry； stood in the window…niche of the ball…room and conversed with Count Kalkreuth； the friend and adjutant of her husband。 The count had been sent home amongst the wounded； but he was now restored and about to return to the camp。 They spoke quickly and impressively together； but the music drowned their words and made them indistinct to all others。 What said they to each other？ Seemingly petty and indifferent things。 They had； perhaps； a deeper； secret meaning； for the countenance of the princess and that of the count were grave； and the sweet smile had vanished from the charming face of the princess。 They spoke of unimportant things； perhaps； because they had not the courage for the great word which must be spokenthe word farewell！
〃Your royal highness has then no further commission to give me for the prince？〃 said the count； after a pause。
〃No；〃 said the princess； 〃I wrote to him yesterday by the courier。 Describe the ball to him； and tell him how we are； and how you left me。〃
〃I must tell him； then； that your highness is perfectly gay； entirely happy； and glowing with health and beauty；〃 said the count。 These were simple and suitable words； but they were spoken in a hard and bitter tone。
The princess fixed her large soft eyes with an almost pleading expression upon the count； then with a quick movement she took a wreath of white roses； which she wore in her bosom； and held them toward him。 〃As a proof that I am gay and happy；〃 said she； 〃take these flowers to my husband； and tell him I adorned myself with them in honor of his fete。〃
The count pressed his lips convulsively together and looked angrily upon the princess； but he did not raise his hand to take the flowersdid not appear to see that she held them toward him。
〃Well； sir；〃 said the Princess Wilhelmina； 〃you do not take the flowers？〃
〃No；〃 said he； passionately； 〃I will not take them。〃 The princess looked anxiously around； she feared some one might have heard this stormy 〃No。〃 She soon convinced herself that there was no listener nearer than her maid of honor； Fraulein Marshal was still near the Princess Amelia； and she was somewhat isolated by etiquette； she saw； therefore； that she dared carry on this conversation。
〃Why will you not take my flowers？〃 she said； proudly。
The count drew nearer。 〃I will tell you； princess；〃 said he〃I will tell you； if this passionate pain now burning in my breast does not slay me。 I will not take your flowers； because I will not be a messenger of love between you and the prince； because I