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softer； sweeter； dearer melody sounded in her ears； she heard the echo of that voice which had spoken scornfully； despairingly； and yet love had been the sweet theme。
The sudden stillness waked her from her dream and she stepped forward。 The general silence was interrupted by the well…known coarse； stern voice of the Princess Amelia。
〃Does this dance please you； Baron Marshal？ The French officers have taught it to our ladies as a return for the dance which our brave Prussian soldiers taught the French at Rossbach； at Rossbach； however； they danced to a quicker； faster tempo。 These Frenchmen are now calling out； 'En avant！' but at Rossbach； I am told； 'En arriere！' was the word of command。〃
A death…like silence followed these sarcastic words of the princess； and throughout the room her mocking； derisive laugh which followed these words was distinctly heard。 She rose； and leaning upon the arm of Baron Marshal； advanced to meet the Princess Wilhelmina； and cast a fierce glance at the officers； who were assembled in groups and talking in low tones but earnestly with each other。
Suddenly Belleville； leaning on another officer； advanced from one of these groups； they walked backward and forward； laughing and chattering loudly； without regarding the presence of the princess。 They then drew near the orchestra； and called out in a jovial tone：
〃Messieurs； have the kindness to play a Dutch waltz； but in the quick time which the Austrians played at Hochkirch； when they drove the Prussians before them； and in which Field…Marshal Broglie played at Bergen； when he tramped upon the Prussians！ Play on； messieurs！ play on！〃
Belleville then danced forward with great levity of manner to Fraulein Marshal； who stood by the side of her father； without saluting her； he seized her hand。
〃Come； ma toute belle；〃 said he； 〃you have played the marble statue long enough for one day； it is time that you should awake to life in my arms。 Come； then； and dance with me your lascivious Dutch waltz； which no respectable woman in France would dare to dance！ Come！ come！〃
Belleville tried to drag Fraulein Marshal forward； but at the instant a powerful and heavy arm was laid upon him； and his hand was dashed off rudely。
〃I have heard you to the end；〃 said Baron Marshal； calmly； 〃I wished to see a little of the renowned gallantry of which the Frenchman is so proud。 It appears to me that a strange ton must now reign in Paris； well suited； perhaps； to the boudoirs of mistresses； but not fitting or acceptable to the ears of respectable women。 I beg you therefore； sir； not to assume this ton in Berlin； I am resolved not to endure it。〃
Belleville laughed aloud； drew very near the baron； and looked him insolently in the face。
〃Who are you； monsieur； who dare take the liberty of begging me； who do not know you； to do or not do any thing？〃
〃I am Baron Marshal； the father of this lady whom you have dared to offend！〃
Belleville laughed still louder than before。
〃Aha！ that is a beautiful fairy tale！ You who are as hideous as a baboon； and have borrowed the eyes of the cat！you the father of the lovely Galatea Marshal！tell that tale to other earsI do not believe in such aberrations of Nature。 I repeat my question： who are you？ what is your name？〃
〃I repeat to you； I am Baron Marshal； the father of this lady。〃
〃You are more credulous； sir； than I am； if you believe that；〃 said Belleville； coarsely。
〃Perhaps I am less credulous than you suppose；〃 said Marshal； quietly。 〃It would； for example； be difficult for me to believe that you are a nobleman。 I can assure you； however； that I am not only noble； but a man of honor。〃
Belleville was in the act of giving a passionate answer； when the doors of the supper…room were thrown open； and a sea of light irradiated the room。
At this moment； the queen and her ladies entered from the card…room； and； at her appearance； every word； every sound was hushed。 Silently； and with a conciliatory smile； the queen passed through the saloon； and seated herself at the table； she then gave the sign to the grand…master； that her guests should be seated。 And now the servants； in golden liveries； flew from side to side bearing silver plates； containing the rare and fragrant viands which the inventive head of Baron Pollnitz had ordered for the favored guests of her majesty the Queen of Prussia。
Nothing is so well calculated to quiet the perturbed soul as a costly and well…prepared feast。 The haughty Frenchmen soon forgot their mortified vanity and resentment； and were well pleased to be seated at the table of the 〃great Frederick。〃 They ate and drank right merrily in honor of the bold and brave prince who had sent them here from Rossbach； but if the rich dishes made them forget their mortification； the fiery wine excited yet more their presumptuous levity。 They forgot that they were the guests of a queen。 Louder and more extravagant was their gayety； more boisterous； more indiscreet their unrestrained laughter。 In their frantic merriment they dared to sing aloud some of the little ambiguous； equivocal chansons； which belonged to the gamins of Paris； and at which the Marquise de Pompadour laughed till she shed tears when sung sometimes by the merry courtiers。
In vain the grand…master besought them； in his most polished manner； not to sing at table。
〃We have been so long forced to listen to the dull； screeching discord of your singers； that we must have some compensation！〃 said they。 〃Besides；〃 said Belleville； in a loud voice； 〃it belongs now to bon ton to sing at the table； and the Prussian court should thank us for introducing this new Parisian mode。〃
They sang； chatted； laughed； and almost overpowered the music by their boisterous levity。 Their presumptuous revelry seemed to be every moment on the increase。 The Austrian and Russian officers looked upon them with disgust and alarm； and entreated them to desist； but the French officers were regardless of all etiquette。 During the dessert； Belleville and some of his friends arose and drew near the table at which the queen and the princesses were seated； this was in the middle of the room； and slightly separated from the other tables。 They gazed at the princesses with insolent eyes； and； placing themselves behind the chair of the queen； they began to crack nuts with their teeth； and throw the shells carelessly upon the floor； near her majesty。
The queen continued a quiet conversation with the Princess Wilhelmina； and appeared wholly unconscious of this rudeness and vulgarity； but her face was pallid； and her eyes filled with tears。
〃I pray your majesty to rise from the table！〃 said the Princess Wilhelmina。 〃Look at the Princess Amelia； her countenance glows with anger； there is a tempest on her brow； and it is about to burst upon us。〃
〃You are right； that is the best way to end this torture。〃 She rose from the table； and gave a sign for a general movement。 When the queen and her suite had left the room； Baron Marshal drew near Count Belleville。
〃Sir。〃 said he。 〃I told you before that I was not sufficiently credulous to take you for a nobleman。 Your conduct at the table has proved that I did well to doubt you。 Yourself and friends have shown that you are strangers to the duties of cavaliers； and utterly ignorant of the manners of good society。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Belleville； 〃this offence demands satisfaction。〃
〃I am ready to grant it；〃 said Baron Marshal； 〃name the time and place of meeting。〃
〃You know well；〃 cried Belleville； 〃that I am a prisoner； and have given my word of honor not to use my sword！〃
〃So you were impertinent and shameless； because you knew you were safe？ You knew that； thanks to your word of honor； you could not be chastised！〃
〃Sir；〃 cried Belleville； 〃you forget that you speak not only to a nobleman； but to a soldier。〃
〃 Well； I know that I speak to a Frenchman； who lost his powder… mantle and pomatum…pot at Rossbach。〃
Belleville； beside himself with rage； seized his sword； and half drew it from the scabbard。
〃God be praised； I have a sword with which to revenge insult！〃 he cried。 〃I have given my word not to use it on the battle…field against the Prussians； but here we stand as private adversaries； man