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the American produced from his pocket。 〃I see that you are a born
American citizenand an earlier knowledge of that fact would have
prevented this little contretemps。 You are aware； Mr。 Hoffman；
that your name is German？〃
〃It was borne by my ancestors； who came from this country two
centuries ago；〃 said Hoffman； curtly。
〃We are indeed honored by your return to it；〃 returned Sanderman
suavely； 〃but it was the circumstance of your name being a local
one； and the possibility of your still being a German citizen
liable to unperformed military duty； which has caused the trouble。〃
His manner was clearly civil and courteous； but Hoffman felt that
all the time his own face and features were undergoing a profound
scrutiny from the speaker。
〃And you are making sure that you will know me again？〃 said
Hoffman； with a smile。
〃I trust； indeed； both；〃 returned Sanderman； with a bow； 〃although
you will permit me to say that your description here；〃 pointing to
the passport； 〃scarcely does you justice。 ACH GOTT！ it is the same
in all countries； the official eye is not that of the young DAMEN。〃
Hoffman； though not conceited； had not lived twenty years without
knowing that he was very good…looking； yet there was something in
the remark that caused him to color with a new uneasiness。
The Ober…Inspector rose with another bow； and moved toward the
door。 〃I hope you will let me make amends for this intrusion by
doing anything I can to render your visit here a pleasant one。
Perhaps；〃 he added； 〃it is not for long。〃
But Hoffman evaded the evident question； as he resented what he
imagined was a possible sneer。
〃I have not yet determined my movements；〃 he said。
The Ober…Inspector brought his heels together in a somewhat stiffer
military salute and departed。
Nothing； however； could have exceeded the later almost servile
urbanity of the landlord； who seemed to have been proud of the
official visit to his guest。 He was profuse in his attentions； and
even introduced him to a singularly artistic…looking man of middle
age； wearing an order in his buttonhole； whom he met casually in
the hall。
〃Our Court photographer；〃 explained the landlord with some fervor；
〃at whose studio； only a few houses distant； most of the Hoheiten
and Prinzessinen of Germany have sat for their likenesses。〃
〃I should feel honored if the distinguished American Herr would
give me a visit；〃 said the stranger gravely； as he gazed at Hoffman
with an intensity which recalled the previous scrutiny of the
Police Inspector； 〃and I would be charmed if he would avail himself
of my poor skill to transmit his picturesque features to my unique
collection。〃
Hoffman returned a polite evasion to this invitation； although he
was conscious of being struck with this second examination of his
face； and the allusion to his personality。
The next morning the porter met him with a mysterious air。 The
Herr would still like to see the Schloss？ Hoffman； who had quite
forgotten his adventure in the park； looked vacant。 JA WOHLthe
Hof authorities had no doubt heard of his visit and had intimated
to the hotel proprietor that he might have permission to visit the
model farm and dairy。 As the American still looked indifferent the
porter pointed out with some importance that it was a Ducal
courtesy not to be lightly treated； that few； indeed； of the
burghers themselves had ever been admitted to this eccentric whim
of the late Grand Duchess。 He would； of course； be silent about
it； the Court would not like it known that they had made an
exception to their rules in favor of a foreigner； he would enter
quickly and boldly alone。 There would be a housekeeper or a
dairymaid to show him over the place。
More amused at this important mystery over what he； as an American；
was inclined to classify as a 〃free pass〃 to a somewhat heavy 〃side
show；〃 he gravely accepted the permission； and the next morning
after breakfast set out to visit the model farm and dairy。
Dismissing his driver； as he had been instructed； Hoffman entered
the gateway with a mingling of expectancy and a certain amusement
over the 〃boldness〃 which the porter had suggested should
characterize his entrance。 Before him was a beautifully kept lane
bordered by arbored and trellised roses； which seemed to sink into
the distance。 He was instinctively following it when he became
aware that he was mysteriously accompanied by a man in the livery
of a chasseur； who was walking among the trees almost abreast of
him； keeping pace with his step； and after the first introductory
military salute preserving a ceremonious silence。 There was
something so ludicrous in this solemn procession toward a peaceful；
rural industry that by the time they had reached the bottom of the
lane the American had quite recovered his good humor。 But here a
new astonishment awaited him。 Nestling before him in a green
amphitheater lay a little wooden farm…yard and outbuildings； which
irresistibly suggested that it had been recently unpacked and set
up from a box of Nuremberg toys。 The symmetrical trees； the
galleried houses with preternaturally glazed windows； even the
spotty； disproportionately sized cows in the white…fenced barnyards
were all unreal； wooden and toylike。
Crossing a miniature bridge over a little stream； from which he was
quite prepared to hook metallic fish with a magnet their own size；
he looked about him for some real being to dispel the illusion。
The mysterious chasseur had disappeared。 But under the arch of an
arbor； which seemed to be composed of silk ribbons； green glass；
and pink tissue paper； stood a quaint but delightful figure。
At first it seemed as if he had only dispelled one illusion for
another。 For the figure before him might have been made of Dresden
chinaso daintily delicate and unique it was in color and
arrangement。 It was that of a young girl dressed in some forgotten
medieval peasant garb of velvet braids； silver…staylaced corsage；
lace sleeves； and helmeted metallic comb。 But； after the Dresden
method； the pale yellow of her hair was repeated in her bodice； the
pink of her cheeks was in the roses of her chintz overskirt。 The
blue of her eyes was the blue of her petticoat； the dazzling
whiteness of her neck shone again in the sleeves and stockings。
Nevertheless she was real and human； for the pink deepened in her
cheeks as Hoffman's hat flew from his head； and she recognized the
civility with a grave little curtsy。
〃You have come to see the dairy；〃 she said in quaintly accurate
English； 〃I will show you the way。〃
〃If you please；〃 said Hoffman； gaily； 〃but〃
〃But what？〃 she said； facing him suddenly with absolutely
astonished eyes。
Hoffman looked into them so long that their frank wonder presently
contracted into an ominous mingling of restraint and resentment。
Nothing daunted； however； he went on：
〃Couldn't we shake all that