Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/110

94 they honoured the house where they were so well treated, and host and guests were satisfied with each other.

Among these gods of war there was many a young hero capable of turning the head of a Venus; but one among them outshone all the rest,—a young officer called the handsome Fred, who resembled the god of love in a helmet: he was handsome, polite, mild, modest, pleasant, of a lively spirit, and a good dancer. No man had as yet made any impression upon Emily’s heart; but he excited in her bosom an unknown sentiment, which filled her soul with inexpressible gratification. The only thing that astonished her was, that the beautiful Adonis was neither a prince nor a count, but was simply called “the handsome Fred.” She asked, on closer acquaintance, one or two of his comrades in arms about the family name and descent of the young man, but none could throw any light upon the subject. All of them praised handsome Fred as a brave man, who knew the service well, and possessed the most amiable qualities; but about his pedigree there were as many different opinions as there were about that of the then living and well-known, but still enigmatical, Count Cagliostro, who till now is by some believed to be a de-