"Exactly such a one as I am wearing to-day, only when we were ready,
and it had begun to grow dark, the countess laid a white mantle over
me, and covered my head with a cap. Then she drove me into the park,
gave me a letter, and said: 'You will give this letter to a
gentleman who will meet us.' We went in silence through the paths
and alleys of the park, and I confess that my heart beat right
anxiously, and that I had to think a great deal upon the fifteen
thousand francs, in order to keep my courage up."

"Did you go with the countess alone, or was some one else with you?"

"The gentleman who first made my acquaintance, and who was, as I
believe, the husband of the countess, accompanied us. After we had
walked about for a while, he stopped and said: 'Now you must walk
alone; I shall, however, be there at the right time to make a noise,
and to put the amorous lover to flight.' Then he stepped into the
thicket, and we were alone. On this the countess gave me a rose, and
said: 'You will give this rose with the letter to the person, and
say nothing more than this. You know what that signifies.' The
countess made me repeat that three times, and then said: 'You need
not add a single word to that. The queen herself has selected these
words, and she will hear whether you repeat them correctly, for she
will stand behind you, and be a spectator of the whole scene.' On
this the countess withdrew, leading me into a thicket, and soon the
gentleman came, and I came out of the place of my concealment. After
he had made me some very deep reverences, I handed him the rose and
the letter, and repeated the very words the countess had taught me.
The gentleman sank upon his knee, and kissed the hand which I
extended with the rose. At this moment we heard a noise, as if of
men's steps approaching, and the countess came running up. 'For