The door slowly opened, and near the window appeared the pretty ringleted head of a lovely child.
“Papa Carlos,” he said, “are you alone? may I enter?”
“Since when, my angel, have you had need of permission to enter here?”
“Since you have ceased to love me so much,” replied the lovely creature, seating himself on his father’s knees. “Do you know, papa, I am very wise. I study well with Don Frederico, and I already speak German.”
“Really!”
“I know already how to say, ‘God bless my good father and my good mother:’ I say, ‘Gott segne meinen guten Vater und meine liebe Mutter!’ Now kiss me. But,” said he suddenly, “I forgot to tell you that Don Frederico wishes to speak to you.”
“Don Frederico?” asked the duke in surprise.
“Yes, papa.”
“Go, and ask him to come in, my son; his time is precious, and he must not lose it.”
The duke folded the paper on which he had traced some lines, and Stein entered.