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 “Your majesty again speaks with your customary kindness to my family,” objected the Count, with a profound bow, that the Emperor might not see how he flushed with high expectations for the future.

“Expressing my opinion of your daughter according to her merit, I am not thinking of you or your faithfulness; I have nothing on my mind but her rare personality. When will you introduce her at the court?”

“Can I hope ever to think of such a thing as introducing a daughter who has such a nature?” the Count sighed with much hypocrisy, for he had thought of it several times, but his daughter had always decidedly objected. She did not wish to follow him where she knew the trammels of conventionality threatened her independent ways. In Prague it was different; her family enjoyed so many rights, so many privileges and such high esteem that much was overlooked and forgiven.

“Just because of her rare nature you must introduce her as soon as possible,” said the Emperor, kindly reproving the Count. “Let