"It happened, one Whitsuntide, that Nobel, the King of all the Beasts, held a Court," and so on.
Ilse sat with her work in her hand by her husband; the light of the lamp fell on his countenance, which she examined searchingly, in order to read therein whether he still felt towards her as before; till at last the iniquities of the fox brought a smile to her lips, and she took the book from him, and read on quietly and comfortably, as at home.
"How is the Lady Bergau?" asked the Princess, of her attendant, the little Gotlinde Thurn.
"Very ill, your Highness. She has been much disturbed by the sudden departure of her husband, and her confinement is expected every hour."
"Bergau gone away?" asked the Princess, in astonishment.
"The Sovereign has commissioned him to purchase some porcelain curiosities in a distant city."
The Princess looked significantly at her confidant.
"Forgive me, your Highness, if I venture to say," continued the lady-in-waiting, "that we are all indignant. Bergau, it is said, had a scene yesterday with the strange lady at the Pavilion; and this morning early the Sovereign expressed himself, in giving his orders, in a way that made any objection out of the question."
"What has happened at the Pavilion?" asked the Princess.
"That is not known," replied the angry lady; "but, from some expressions of Bergau, one may conclude that the stranger has raised pretensions, demanded an introduction at Court, and threatened to leave in the event of a refusal. The arrogance of the woman is unbearable. We all beg that your Highness will be gracious enough to maintain our rights."