“Leave it with me,” said Amelia, after a few moments’ reflection. “I myself will show it to him and seek to interest him in the fate of his unhappy relative. If I succeed, the cup is mine, and you will not wish to sell it to General Riedt Do you agree to this? Go, then, and return to me at this hour to-morrow, when I will either pay you the price of the cup, or return it to you, if I am so unhappy as to fail.”
The jeweller bowed profoundly. “I will punctually obey your highness’s commands. To-morrow at this hour I will be here.”
The stranger took his casket and left the room. The princess gazed after him till the door closed.
“That man is silent and discreet, I believe he can be trusted,” she murmured. “I will write at once, and desire an interview with General Riedt.”
CHAPTER VI. THE PRINCESS AND THE DIPLOMATIST.
An hour later the page of the princess announced General von Riedt, Austrian ambassador at the court of Berlin. Amelia advanced to meet him, and gazed with a sharp, piercing glance at the general, who bowed respectfully before her.
“I have sent for you, general,” said the princess, “to repair an injury. You have been announced twice, and both times I declined receiving you.”
“That was no injury, your royal highness,” said the general, smiling. “I ventured to call on you because etiquette demands that a new ambassador should introduce himself to every member of the royal house. Your royal highness declined to receive me, it was not agreeable, and you were perfectly justifiable in closing your doors against me.”
“And now you must wonder why I have sent for you?”