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 The heavy stone rolled off the Count’s breast. He had thought he would choke with anger when, at this very decisive moment, he saw his daughter again overtaken by one of her eccentric fancies and thus defeating the ambitious plans with which his proud mind was teeming. With that anger something terrible had suddenly formed in his heart; he felt that he could never forgive Maria Felicia if Joseph II. left Prague without meeting her. He jumped up like a youth when he heard the Emperor’s proposal, and instantly gave orders to have his horses saddled.

If the guests a few moments ago looked on with ridicule and impatience when the Countess with the young nobles unconcernedly left her father’s guests, and whispered that it was really unbearable to see her trample on all the rules of etiquette, they did not know what to say when they saw that the Emperor considered the young lady’s conduct perfectly proper and that he intended to follow her.

Joseph II. left, taking with him the Count, without any ceremony whatever. The