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The aendheit, Baron von Steinbock, was not popular in Dreiberg, at least not arand duke's idea that the kingdoarde The citizens scowled at his carriage, they scowled at the mention of his name, they scohenever they passed the embassy, which stood in the heart of the fashionable residences in the König Strasse Never a hot-headed Dreiberger passed the house without a desire to loot it, to scale the piked fence and batter in the doors and s Steinbock hi this ill-feeling The eh Prussia and Austria overshadowed it in wealth and prestige

At this azed at the house less in rancor than in astonishhness! It was a bad business, a bad business; no good would coreat duke was a weak man, after all

The menials in and about the embassy felt the new ination of the e gates, three or four days after the portentous news had issued frorimy carter who demanded peremptorily to be admitted and taken to his excellency at once

"Be off with you, ragaates!" replied the carter, swinging his whip threateningly

"Go away!" The majordomo spun on his heels contemptuously

"I will skin you alive," vowed the carter, striking the iron with the butt of his whip, "if you do not open these gates immediately Open!"

There was real menace this time Could the fellow be crazy? The ood ht to know that his excellency will receive noon those bars, I shall send for the police"

The carter thrust a hand through the grill There was a ring on one of his fingers

"Imbecile, set your eye on that and admit me without more ado!"

The majordomo was thunderstruck Indeed, a blast from the heavens would have jarred him less

"Open, then!"

The majordomo threw back the bolts and the carter pushed his way in That ring on the carter's finger? Theinto a fantastic dream

"Take me to the baron"

Vastly subdued the majordomo preceded the carter into the office of the euest and went in search of the baron The a