Perhaps, though, she secured her husband before her sister won this
dubious celebrity. At all events, she lived blamelessly, but _bad_ blood
does not lie! This girl seems to aim at the reputation of her aunt, the
celebrated Iza, whose portrait was painted, her figure copied in
immortal marble, and her charms sung by French bards. At all events, she
bewitched the old Count von Raackensee, who took her on a tour through
our country and Austria. It was at Vienna that he, an old statesman and
courtier, committed the folly of presenting her as his daughter! The
truth came out--Austria and Prussia made remonstrances, and he was
compelled to resign his office or this witch. He would not give her up
and so he was punished."

"Punished?"

"Yes; he went on to live at Nice, where he had bought a villa in
foresight for some such day of disgrace. The Circe was to follow him,
but, instead of that, she has shaken off the golden links and
condescends to stay a week in Munich to amuse us coarse swiggers of
beer."




CHAPTER IV.

THE STAR IS DEAD LONG LIVE THE STAR!


By listening to others and observing them, man obtains the material for
self-preservation. Evidently this star of the minor stage was a woman to