made great sacrifices to the chimera which now had become part of his existence. Although permitted to unite all the happiness of domestic life with his governorship of Karlstein, he yet, as he himself expressed it, had resigned a beautiful bride on the altar of his fatherland, considering it a crime against God for a Podiebrad to infringe the sacred laws of Karlstein. He likewise required all his officers to remain unmarried; and having succeeded in restoring to the Karlstein its ecclesiastical privileges, a union of monkish and knightly discipline was gradually introduced, in which he took great delight, and sought once more to adorn it with all manner of mystical dreams and usages out of the history of the Crusades. His personal appearance and character supported in the highest degree his pretensions. He was six feet high at least, and his lean form, and his expressive, proud and fanatical countenance gave proof of his ascetic life. He was possessed of great native dignity, and had gained, through knightly exercise, an elegant bearing and proud courtesy, which he accounted among the necessary knightly virtues. Every one who saw him for the first time must undoubtedly have been attracted by his condescending kindness and noble dignity, which he so well knew how to unite, and must have admired him as a representative of a bygone age, for he resembled one of Godfrey de Bouillon's knights rather than the governor of a fortress in the time of Maria Theresa.

After Podiebrad had, with the greatest respect, returned the greeting of his officers in the manner

we have described, he, with all around him, remained standing until a hoarse old clock in one of the towers had struck eight times; then the doors opened at the end of the room, and the officer on duty, attended by two soldiers, entered, and with great solemnity laid before Podiebrad, upon a cushion which the chamberlain immediately presented, the keys of the fortress, at the same time exclaiming, in a loud voice, "All in peace and safety -God and His saints protect the castle!"

"Amen!" said Count von Podiebrad; the depu tation withdrew, and now when the chamberlain had borne the keys into his master's apartments, the Governor took his place, inviting the officers to enjoy the same liberty.

The simple but wholesome food circulated round the table, and a moderate use of the wine-cup was also permitted.

But this, perhaps, was the greatest liberty enjoyed, for Count von Podiebrad entertained an idea that it was not at all becoming to speak in his presence. This, however, gave rise to such monotony, that even he himself must sometimes feel its weariness, especially having no companions, like his officers, with whom he might indemnify himself for this restraint. He being alone permitted to speak, had introduced, therefore, a kind of catechism which all must carefully listen to in order to reply. But in vain had the whole authority of the uncle been brought to bear upon the fair youth, and several times had it been so much endangered, that at length the noble Count von Podiebrad had determined in

doubtful cases to leave the follies of his nephew unobserved. And to-day, scarcely had the ceremony of the giving up of the keys terminated, before he whispered to Castiglione von Pasterau, his neighbour, "that Mother Grimschütz' cow had absolutely refused to wait for the opening of the gates, and in mockery of his noble uncle, had, before his eyes, walked out of her stall, and taken her way over the invincible ramparts."

"Well, to-day," whispered Pasterau, in return, things have reached their crisis in our castle, for the most beautiful girl in Christendom is arrived here, and, should she be quartered here, it's all up with the dignity of your uncle!"

"I hope that he will be obliged to give way, for the Empress will not trouble herself about the crazy fancies that are hatched here, and the police-messenger swears that she has issued her commands

if I had only seen her!"

"She has a sort of bull-dog with her as guard; he calls himself her grandfather," returned Pasterau; "but such old fellows always love a little glass, and with that we will soon decoy him."

"Those are the only means thou art acquainted with," cried Trautsohn, in somewhat too loud a tone. "Take heed that his Excellency do not discover how thy morning and evening hours are spent!"

"Count von Pasterau, may one inquire what subject of importance you find it necessary to discuss in our presence?" cried the severe voice of the Governor.

"Ah! my illustrious uncle," returned Trautsohn,

"I could not make Pasterau believe what extraor dinary capers Mother Grimschütz' cow cuts when every morning she leaves the castle without waiting for the opening of the gates." But the waggish youth almost regretted his cruel joke when he suddenly perceived that the severe countenance of his proud uncle became pale, and instead of anger, expressed painful thoughts and sincere grief. This he had not desired, for he had the best heart in the world, and both loved and honoured his uncle. A deep silence fell upon the assembly.

At length Count von Podiebrad having once more persuaded himself with the old deception that, nevertheless, Karlstein was a strong fortress, again raised his grave, melancholy voice :—

"Baron von Galbes," said he to the captain, who sat next him, "to-day has been an evil day, and full of most improper demands. Have you commanded the messenger-of-police to leave the fortress to-morrow with the persons confided to his charge?"

"Your Excellency, he is in no manner to be persuaded to that; he even still dares to maintain. that his instructions have reference to this place, that he has fulfilled them, and now must leave the rest, your Excellency. He is ready to return as speedily as possible to Vienna, to make every inquiry on the road concerning the courier, and to forward to your Excellency from Vienna the earliest instructions regarding this peculiar case."

"But what must become of the prisoners?” cried the Count von Podiebrad, with terror; "he must re-conduct them to Budnian, and have them consigned

to the prison there, for the Karlstein is no place for criminals." Saying this he glanced from right to left, and Matthias von Thurn summoned courage to reply, "That there must be some peculiar circumstances connected with these prisoners."

Speak, Count von Thurn," said Podiebrad, condescendingly; "you conducted the affair; I suppose they are common people; lawyers are usually cheats, risen from the dregs of the people!"

"Your Excellency will have had greater experience," returned Thurn; "but, nevertheless, it is certain that this old man is not without education-perhaps, from having been employed by persons of the higher class, he may have caught something of their manners and bearing."

"And his granddaughter is wonderfully beau-` tiful, your grace!" cried Trautsohn.

"Thou wilt please to remain silent until thy turn comes to speak," cried Podiebrad, wrathfully; "it is not seemly to speak of women here with the term you have just employed; she will, no doubt, be a common person of the labouring class," pursued he.

Thurn was again puzzled; at length he said, "She can scarcely be of the labouring class; every thing is so mysterious. I heard that she was expecting a female attendant; the messenger desired admission for her also."

"This exceeds all belief," cried the Governor, overpowered by astonishment. "A prisoner of so low a class, and arrogates the privilege of a woman