divulged the secret; that on acquiring the certainty that I would
enter their town, their joy had known no bounds: however, as they
perceived I was determined on preserving the strictest incognito,
they felt how wrong they had been in too importunately seeking to
withdraw the veil; but I had received them so condescendingly and so
graciously, that they were sure I would forgive them. The whole
affair was such capital amusement to the unprincipled Rascal, that
he did his best to confirm the good people in their belief, while
affecting to reprove them. He gave me a very comical account of the
matter; and, seeing that I was amused by it, actually endeavoured to
make a merit of his impudence.

Shall I own the truth? My vanity was flattered by having been
mistaken for our revered sovereign. I ordered a banquet to be got
ready for the following evening, under the trees before my house,
and invited the whole town. The mysterious power of my purse,
Bendel's exertions, and Rascal's ready invention, made the shortness
of the time seem as nothing.

It was really astonishing how magnificently and beautifully
everything was arranged in these few hours. Splendour and abundance
vied with each other, and the lights were so carefully arranged that
I felt quite safe: the zeal of my servants met every exigency and
merited all praise.

Evening drew on, the guests arrived, and were presented to me. The
word MAJESTY was now dropped; but, with the deepest respect and
humility, I was addressed as the COUNT. What could I do? I
accepted the title, and from that moment I was known as Count Peter.
In the midst of all this festivity my soul pined for one individual.