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n apartments； and when some great court festival compelled her to appear in public； she revenged herself by wounding all who approached her。 The sufferings of others were a balsam to her heart； and she convinced herself that the pain she inflicted assuaged her own torments。
Amelia was alone； her maid of honor had just read aloud one of Moliere's biting； satirical comedies； and received leave of absence for a few hours。 The princess had also dismissed her chamberlain till dinner； and he had left the castle； only two pages waited in the anteroom； which was separated by two chambers from the boudoir。 Amelia had the happy consciousness of being alone in her grief； and； fearing no disturbance； she could sigh and lament aloud。 She dared give words to her rage and her despair； there were no other listeners than these dead； voiceless wallsthey had been long her only confidants。 The stillness was suddenly broken by a gentle knock at the door； and one of the pages entered。
With a frightened look； and begging earnestly to be pardoned for having dared to disturb the princess； he informed her that a stranger was without； who pleaded eagerly to be admitted。
〃What does he wish？〃 said Amelia； roughly。 〃I have neither office nor dignity to bestow； and； at present； I have no money！ Tell him this； and he will go away cheerfully。〃
〃The stranger says he is a jeweller； your highness；〃 said the page。 〃It is of great importance to him that you should look at his collection of gems； and if you will have the goodness to purchase a few trifles； you will make them the fashion in Berlin； and thus make his fortune。〃
〃Tell him he is a fool！〃 said Amelia； with a coarse laugh； 〃I have no desire to see his jewels！ Dismiss him； and do not dare disturb me again。 Well； why do you hesitate？ Why are you still here？〃
〃Ah； princess； the poor man begs so earnestly for admittance； he says your highness knew him at Magdeburg； and that the governor； the Landgrave of Hesse； expressly charged him to show the jewels to your highness。〃
These magical words aroused Amelia from her apathy。 With a quick movement she arose from the sofa； she was endowed with new energy and vitality； she advanced toward the door； then paused； and looked silent and thoughtful。
〃Admit the stranger！〃 said she； 〃I will see his treasures。〃
The page left the room； and Amelia gazed after him breathlessly； and with a loudly…beating heart。 It seemed to her an eternity before the stranger entered。
A tall； slender man； in simple but elegant costume； approached。 He stood at the door； and bowed profoundly to the princess。 Amelia looked at him steadily； and sighed deeply； she did not know this man。 Again her hopes had deceived her。
〃You said the Landgrave of Hesse sent you to me？〃 said she； roughly。
〃Yes； princess；〃 said the man； 〃he commanded me to seek your highness as soon as I arrived in Berlin； and show you my collection； in order that you might have the privilege of selecting before all others。〃
Amelia looked once more questioningly and fiercely upon the stranger； but he remained cold and indifferent。
〃Well； sir； show me your gems！〃
He placed a large casket upon a table in the middle of the room； he then unlocked it； and threw back the lid。 In the different compartments； splendid jewels of wondrous beauty were to be seen rings； pins； bracelets； and necklaces of rare workmanship and design。
〃Diamonds；〃 cried Amelia； contemptuously； 〃nothing but diamonds！〃
〃But diamonds of a strange fire and wondrous design；〃 said the strange jeweller。 〃Will not your highness graciously draw nearer； and observe them？〃
〃I have no use for them： I wear no diamonds！〃 said Amelia： 〃if you have nothing else to show me； close the casket； I shall make no purchase。〃
〃I have； indeed； other and rarer treasures； some beautiful carved work； by Cellini； some ivory carving of the middle ages； and a few rare and costly cameos。 Perhaps these may please the taste of your highness？〃
The jeweller raised the first compartment； and taking out a number of beautiful and costly articles； he laid them upon the table； explained the workmanship and design of each piece； and called the attention of the princess to their wondrous beauty。
Amelia listened carelessly to his words。 These things had no interest for her； she looked only at one objecta round packet； rolled in paper； which the stranger had taken with the other articles from the casket； this must be something particularly costly。 It was carefully wrapped in silk paper； while every thing else lay confusedly together； and yet this seemed the only treasure which the jeweller did not seem disposed to exhibit。 Amelia； however； remarked that he raised this mysterious packet several times； as if it was in his way； changed its place； but every time brought it nearer to her。 It now lay immediately in front of her。
〃What does that paper contain？〃 said she。
〃Oh； that has no interest for your royal highness； that is a worthless object！ Will you have the goodness to examine this seal？ It represents the holy Saint Michael； treading the dragon under his feet； and it is one of the most successful and beautiful works of Benvenuto Cellini。〃
Amelia did not look at the seal； she stretched out her hand toward the mysterious packet； and giving a searching look at the jeweller； she raised and opened it。
〃A cup！ a tin cup！〃 she exclaimed； in astonishment。
〃As I remarked to your highness； a worthless object； unless the rare beauty of the workmanship should give it some value。 The carving is indeed beautiful and most wonderful； when you know that it was done with a common nail； and not even in daylight； but in the gloom and darkness of a subterranean cell。〃
Amelia trembled so violently； that the cup almost fell from her hand。 The stranger did not remark her emotion； but went on quietly。
〃Observe； your highness； how finely and correctly the outlines are drawn； it is as artistically executed as the copperplate of a splendid engraving。 It is greatly to be regretted that we cannot take impressions from this tin cup； they would make charming pictures。 The sketches are not only well executed； but they are thoughtfully and pathetically conceived and illustrated with beautiful verses； which are worthy of a place in any album。 If your highness takes any interest in such trifles； I beg you will take this to the light and examine it closely。〃
The princess did not answer： she stepped to the window； and turning her back to the jeweller； looked eagerly at the cup。
It was； indeed； a masterpiece of art and industry。 The surface was divided by small and graceful arabesques into ten departments； each one of which contained an enchanting and finely…executed picture。 No chisel could have drawn the lines more correctly or artistically； or produced a finer effect of light and shade。 Under each picture there was a little verse engraved in such fine characters； that they could only be deciphered with difficulty。
Amelia's eyes seemed to have recovered the strength and power of earlier days。 A youthful； vigorous soul lay in the glance which was fixed upon this cup； she understood every thing。
There was a cage with an imprisoned bird； beneath this a verse：