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 young lady exclaimed, and her eyes beamed so enchantingly that the Emperor, again overcome by her beauty, forgave her for recalling the dark scene of the past and inconsiderately marring a sweet hour for him.

“Placing both her hands on her heaving breast, the Countess began:

“I have discovered a treasure for which I have paid a great price. But I shall never regret having bought it if you will accept it from my hand, illustrious master; millions you can enrich with it, millions you can make happy, and at the same time make yourself happy. Oh, accept from me this costly gift, and brighten my life with the one beam of happiness yet possible for me in this world!”

Again the Emperor seized the hand of the ardent Countess; at last she spoke as he had been wishing, and now her enthusiasm was to him loveliness itself.

“That treasure,” Maria Felicia continued, “which suddenly appeared before me is the old reliable faith, which was established by