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Heligoland； for the sea…bathing； and one day she saw
Escovedo…Romanesco sitting opposite to her at the table d'hote；
in very animated conversation with a Russian lady； only his hair
had turned black since she had seen him last。 Evidently his light
hair had become too compromising for him。
〃The sea…water seems to have a very remarkable effect upon your
hair；〃 Wanda said to him spitefully； in a whisper。
〃Do you think so？〃 he replied； condescendingly。
〃I fancy that at one time your hair was fair。〃
〃You are mistaking me for somebody else；〃 the Brazilian replied；
quietly。
〃I am not。〃
〃For whom do you take me； pray？〃 he said with an insolent smile。
〃For Don Escovedo。〃
〃I am Count Dembizki from Valkynia；〃 the former Brazilian said
with a bow； 〃perhaps you would like to see my passport。〃
〃Well； perhaps〃
And he had the impudence to show her his false passport。
A year afterward Wanda met Count Dembizki in Baden； near Vienna。
His hair was still black； but he had a magnificent； full； black
beard； he had become a Greek prince； and his name was Anastasio
Maurokordatos。 She met him once in one of the side walks in the
park； where he could not avoid her。 〃If it goes on like this；〃
she called out to him in a mocking voice； 〃the next time I see
you； you will be king； of some negro tribe or other。〃
That time； however； the Brazilian did not deny his identity； on
the contrary； he surrendered at discretion； and implored her not
to betray him。 As she was not revengeful she pardoned him； after
enjoying his terror for a time； and promised him that she would
hold her tongue； as long as he did nothing contrary to the laws。
〃First of all； I must beg you not to gamble。〃
〃You have only to command； and we do not know each other in the
future〃
〃I must certainly insist on that；〃 she said maliciously。
The 〃Exotic Prince〃 had； however； made a conquest of the charming
daughter of a wealthy Austrian count； and had cut out an
excellent young officer； who was wooing her。 The latter； in his
despair； began to make love to Frau von Chabert； and at last told
her he loved her。 But she only laughed at him。
〃You are very cruel；〃 he stammered in confusion。
〃I？ What are you thinking about？〃 Wanda replied； still smiling；
〃all I mean is that you have directed your love to the wrong
address； for Countess〃
〃Do not speak of her； she is engaged to another man。〃
〃As long as I choose to permit it；〃 she said； 〃but what will you
do if I bring her back to your arms？ Will you still call me
cruel？〃
〃Can you do this？〃 the young officer asked； in great excitement。
〃Well； supposing I can do it； what shall I be then？〃
〃An angel； whom I shall thank on my knees。〃
A few days later； the rivals met at a coffee…house； the Greek
prince began to lie and boast； and the Austrian officer gave him
the lie direct。 In consequence； it was arranged that they should
fight a duel with pistols next morning in a wood close to Baden。
But as the officer was leaving the house with his seconds the
next morning； a Police Commissary came up to him and begged him
not to trouble himself any further about the matter； but another
time to be more careful before accepting a challenge。
〃What does it mean？〃 the officer asked； in some surprise。
〃It means that this Maurokordatos is a dangerous swindler and
adventurer； whom we have just taken into custody。〃
〃He is not a prince？〃
〃No； a circus rider。〃
An hour later； the officer received a letter from the charming
Countess； in which she humbly begged for pardon。 The happy lover
set off to go and see her immediately； but on the way a sudden
thought struck him； and so he turned back in order to thank
beautiful Wanda； as he had promised； on his knees。
THE FALSE GEMS
M。 Lantin had met the young woman at a soiree； at the home of the
assistant chief of his bureau； and at first sight had fallen
madly in love with her。
She was the daughter of a country physician who had died some
months previously。 She had come to live in Paris； with her
mother； who visited much among her acquaintances； in the hope of
making a favorable marriage for her daughter。 They were poor and
honest； quiet and unaffected。
The young girl was a perfect type of the virtuous woman whom
every sensible young man dreams of one day winning for life。 Her
simple beauty had the charm of angelic modesty； and the
imperceptible smile which constantly hovered about her lips
seemed to be the reflection of a pure and lovely soul。 Her
praises resounded on every side。 People were never tired of
saying： 〃Happy the man who wins her love！ He could not find a
better wife。〃
Now M。 Lantin enjoyed a snug little income of 700； and； thinking
he could safely assume the responsibilities of matrimony；
proposed to this model young girl and was accepted。
He was unspeakably happy with her； she governed his household so
cleverly and economically that they seemed to live in luxury。 She
lavished the most delicate attentions on her husband； coaxed and
fondled him； and the charm of her presence was so great that six
years after their marriage M。 Lantin discovered that he loved his
wife even more than during the first days of their honeymoon。
He only felt inclined to blame her for two things： her love of
the theater； and a taste for false jewelry。 Her friends （she was
acquainted with some officers' wives） frequently procured for her
a box at the theater； often for the first representations of the
new plays； and her husband was obliged to accompany her； whether
he willed or not； to these amusements； though they bored him
excessively after a day's labor at the office。
After a time； M。 Lantin begged his wife to get some lady of her
acquaintance to accompany her。 She was at first opposed to such
an arrangement； but； after much persuasion on his part； she
finally consentedto the infinite delight of her husband。
Now； with her love for the theater came also the desire to adorn
her person。 True； her costumes remained as before； simple； and in
the most correct taste； but she soon began to ornament her ears
with huge rhinestones which glittered and sparkled like real
diamonds。 Around her neck she wore strings of false pearls； and
on her arms bracelets of imitation gold。
Her husband frequently remonstrated with her； saying：
〃My dear； as you cannot afford to buy real diamonds； you ought to
appear adorned with your beauty and modesty alone； which are the
rarest ornaments of your sex。〃
But she would smile sweetly； and say：
〃What can I do？ I am so fond of jewelry。 It is my only weakness。
We cannot change our natures。〃
Then she would roll the pearl necklaces around her fingers； and
hold up the bright gems for her husband's admiration； gently
coaxing him：
〃Look！ are they not lovely？ One would swear they were real。〃
M。 Lantin would then answer； smilingly：
〃You have Bohemian tastes； my dear。〃
Often of an evening； when they were enjoying a tete…a…tete by the
fireside； she would place on the tea table the leather box
containing the 〃trash；〃 as M。 Lantin called it。 She would examine
the false gems with a passionate attention as though they were in
some way