Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/261

 bestowed upon him a smile or two in acknowledgment of the compliment, and accepted without hesitation the rich gifts he lavished upon her. For instance, a rich merchant of Augsburgh had just offered the Empress a jewel of very great price he had brought with him from Alexandria, which she had declined as being too expensive. To purchase this, Ulric pledged one half of his territories, and then humbly placed it at the disposal of the mistress of his thoughts, who quietly took it, wore it that evening at a party, rewarded the donor with a few tender glances, and next morning deposited it in her jewel-case, where it remained as little heeded as the Count himself. Ulric, not discouraged, essayed by new gifts, new entertainments of the most gorgeous description, to make himself agreeable to her, but all in vain. Meantime, his lavish expenditure ere long compelled him to pledge the remainder of his estates: his honours and his honour were now all that remained to him; and on these no usurer would have advanced a single farthing.

So outrageous, indeed, had been his prodigalities that the Empress herself, when it was too late, condescended to recommend him not thus madly to dissipate the inheritance of his ancestors. The Count could not resist this opportunity of speaking to her Majesty on the subject 6em